In volunteering with one of the field offices in a very highly-contested state, I am personally shocked at how many people don’t see that Sen. Obama is the best thing that has happened to this country in many many years (well, at least 8…). The man has ideas. He has discussions. He has truly intelligent people around him debate how things should be done. He embodies a country that is ready to look clearly at the issues that affect us, come together, and make changes that will better us all.

There was a line in Sen. Obama’s Convention speech that I truly took to heart: “We are better than that…” We, the United States of Fucking America, are better than letting the poorest among us live without health care. We, the greatest country in the world (at least until Pres. Bush got a whack at the job), are better than the 44th place our education system rates us world-wide. We, the many and the one, can do more to respect our immigrant history than take advantage of illegal labor while disrespecting and mistreating the laborers. We, the home of the brave, can do more for our veterans than forcibly extend their enlistments and then decline them adequate health care and education when they return. (Sen. McCain lobbied against beefing up the GI Bill… this year!)

Maybe I live in a better America. An America that only lives in my head. But, after working from dusk til dark on this campaign day after day, I will tell you that this is an America that many, many of us are ready for. Something better. Something that acknowledges that, yes, we ARE better than this. We are the United States of America.

Think this is all rhetoric? Well I dare you, I just dare you to look at the issues that are important to you. The actual issues that have nothing to do with race, religion, punditry or spin. Check out how Sen. Obama does on the actual issues that are important to you: barackobama.com/issues. Compare his ideas to the ideas (or lack thereof, many times) of Sen. McCain. Which candidate truly moves this country?

Yes, the campaign has worn out the phrases. But in the end, the “change you can believe in” is not about politics. Its about each of us personally looking toward each other and wanting a better life, not just for ourselves, but for our communities. I see the need for this change in my daily life, and I’m betting if you give this election an honest, clear-eyed view, you will too.