Welcome to the Real World Mr. Obama!

Wow.

I never thought it would happen. I kept expecting the Republicans to steal it away from him somehow.

I'm not American by the way, but I think everyone has a right to comment on the activities of the US as they set themselves up for it.

This election had me really worried that we were going to get four more years of Republican values running roughshod over its own people and the rest of the world.

Let's hope Mr Obama is the kind of leader that encourages international co-operation through mutual respect not bullying or bribes. He seems to have that potential.

But how much of that is just wishful thinking on our part?

Okay so he's not Republican, but that's no guarantee of not putting American interests above all else and with complete disregard for the consequences.

He spoke of "Change" but how can he deliver? Can he clean up the banking system with promises of recapitalisation as its reward? Can he turn around the oil hungry nature of his country's people? Can he speed up the adoption of carbon neutral energy sources?

We know it can be done if there's enough will to do it.

If the same force of will that the US used to push past opposition to its actions in Iraq was turned inwards to solve its own problems then we truly would have a country and leader worthy of respect and that people would want to call upon for advice and follow its lead.

Of course, no-one would reasonably stand for that level of government interference in their life. At least not all at once.

So lets give him some time and see what he can really achieve and lets see if the people of America are willing to do as he asks to make that change a reality.