(The following article is from the November 16-30, 2008, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

People's Voice Editorial, Nov. 16-30, 2008

The defeat of John McCain and the election of Barack Obama, the first African-American US president, mark both a truly historic victory, and the start of a monumental challenge. Around the world, this outcome raises hopes of a shift away from the imperialist wars and aggressions launched by the Bush regime.

     The crucial distinction between McCain and Obama does not lie in their personal views, significant as these may be. The main difference is in the forces behind each candidate. McCain won the votes of many working people influenced by right-wing ideology, but essentially he was the favourite of the military-industrial complex, the energy industry, and the ultra-right, anti-union, racist, homophobic, fundamentalist bigots who blight U.S. politics. Obama had the support of sections of capital which reject the dangerous warmongering of the Republican right, but built his victory (and the shift in Congress) by forging a broad coalition of workers, African Americans, Latinos, youth, women, and people's movements.

     Millions of Americans are now in political motion, at a time when our planet faces enormous dangers. The challenge is to keep this wheel turning, to mobilize the power of the U.S. working class and their allies for fundamentally different policies: peace instead of war, action on climate change, defense of working people, not bailouts for billionaires. Winning real change will require a hard struggle, as the President-elect hinted on election night, but that is no reason to despair at setbacks.

     For Canadians, this historic election also offers openings and problems. Obama wants to re-open NAFTA, for example, which gives pro-sovereignty forces a new chance to demand abrogation of this corporate job-killer deal. Obama opposed the tragic invasion of Iraq, yet he also wants to increase NATO troop deployments in Afghanistan. The task of the anti-war movement, in Canada as elsewhere, will be to demand negotiations leading to the swift withdrawal of all occupation forces. There will be many twists and turns ahead, but the terrain of struggle has improved. This is not a time to wait and see; it's a time to step up our efforts!