I voted for Barack Obama because he inspires me on many levels. No, I’m not some naive kid who thinks Obama will don a cape and change the world in a fell swoop. That’s Bruce Wayne. Obama has shown me that it is possible for a politician to have a brain and charisma at the same time. He’s shown me that the way to move mountains is to think clearly through our problems and promote solutions for the good of everyone.

I can’t remember the last time a politician made me feel this positive about the potential for change. I felt a switch turn on when Obama said, “This was never about me. This is about you.” Well thank you sir, I’ll have another.

I voted for Obama because I saw this vote as one for our children, not for ourselves. I’ve heard him say quite a few times that if we don’t change course on the way things are going in this country we will actually end up leaving the next generation in a situation that is worse than our own. Yeah yeah, that’s coated in political rhetoric. But we are amidst global warming, a recession, a big fat gigantic banking crisis, and pervasive cynicism about any of our government leaders. Leaving things in this condition would count as worse in my book and that would be a first in our history.

As Obama said at the Democratic National Convention, “We are better than that.”

We are better than the greedy, you’re-either-with-us-or-against-us world bullies we’ve come to be seen as these last 8 years. We are better than the divided nation we’ve become. We are better than those who turn their backs on people who have nothing only to serve those who have everything. It’s not socialism. It’s being a responsible nation, unifying for the common good in order to progress.

It is not acceptable to allow a president to lead the way Bush did. While Obama respected him as a president and politician, he gets it. He gets why special interests get in the way. He gets why it’s wrong to lead by fear-mongering. He gets why so many nations have a low opinion of us right now.

I voted for Obama because he embodies the United States that I know. He is someone I would hold as a role model for my children. He is diverse, like the people I know. He works hard, like people I know. Oh and he owns a house — just one — like most of the people I know.

I voted for Obama because he’s shown me that he sees the big picture in addition to the thousands of individual problems that make up that big picture. He looks me in the eye and tells me he gives a shit. He owes no corporation anything. And so far, I believe him.

Hope. Unity. Change.