BLOG

Do you believe in mandates?

-- Amanda Meade -- 11/26/2008

I believe in mandates, especially when there actually is one.  Winning by 53% plus of the vote  is certainly a definitive percentage to claim one exists, and more importantly, to use it forcefully to enact change.  Change to invest in clean energy. Change to rebuild infrastructure that encourages mass transit and change that helps us curb global warming.

The polling data I've seen reflects the opinions of a vast majority of Americans desire for major change in our country as well. We want to be free of our oil addiction. We want choices when it comes to transportation - more hybrids, more trains.  We want our government to take global warming seriously and pass policies that help solve the problem.

The decisive win of President Elect Obama was no surprise to those of us who look at such data. In our office election pool I bet on Obama to win by a 54% margin three weeks before the election. I was off by 1%.

With this kind of unprecedented support floating around the country maybe we will finally see an aggressive climate bill pass the Congress. As well as the economic stimulus legislation that has a focus on clean energy investments. We've been falling behind and have a lot of ground to catch up on and a lot of work to do.

There is also opportunity and maybe a once in a lifetime chance to put us on the fast track to progress. Maybe it’s even mandated.