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To those who want to continue borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf and burn it in ways that destroy our planet's environment, it's time to say: "WE NEED CHANGE". Barack Obama knows that we are too dependent on foreign oil and carbon fuels, and has proposed a plan to create millions of good new jobs in renewable green energy, conservation, and efficiency. Here in Detroit, you know we need to revitalize our automobile industry with a commitment to plug-in hybrids and low emission vehicles to solve the climate crisis and create the jobs of the future. The future is ours, not to predict, but to create. But make no mistake: we need to change our policies on climate. Not too many years from now, the next generation will look back at the decisions we make this coming November, and the policies we put in place in January of next year. Were we to ignore the warnings of the scientists around the world, and look the other way as the entire north polar ice cap melts before our eyes and the consequences we've been warned about unfolded, our children might then well ask: "What were they thinking? Why didn't they act? Why didn't they choose change when they had a chance?" It is my deep hope that they will ask another and very different question. I want them to look back on this historic year, and ask: "How did Americans in 2008 find the moral courage to rise and successfully solve the crisis that so many said was impossible to solve? How did they find the strength to change?"
As Americans, we know that our democracy often moves very slowly. But we also know that when we must, we can shift gears quickly, and suddenly pick up the pace to respond boldly to a great challenge. That's what the "greatest generation" did to win World War II, and then came home to start the Marshall Plan to unify Europe, create the United Nations, and create the basis for peace and prosperity for decades. Many people have waited for some sign that our country is awakening once again. How will we know when a massive wave of reform and recovery and regeneration is about to take hold and renew our nation? What would it look like if such a change were beginning to build. I think we might recognize it as a sign of such change if we saw millions of young people getting involved for the first time in the political process. I think we might just recognize it if we saw that new generation casting aside obsolete and hurtful distinctions, and reaching out to one another across the ancient divisions that have frustrated action in the past. I think we would know this change was coming, if a new generation rejected the special interest politics of the past, and the big money that fueled it, and instead used the internet to get small donations and unite Americans in a common effort to realize our common destiny. If we saw it coming, we'd recognize it by the word "hope" and "change". Perhaps we'd recognize it if we heard a young leader rise up to say "We're not a red state America, or a blue state America. We are the United States of America." We would know that change was on the way, if that young leader reached out not only to the supporters of the other candidates in his party, but also beyond partisan lines to Republicans, and Independents, and said to us all: "America, our time has come." I think we would recognize it in a candidate, who in response to those doubting our ability to solve the climate crisis and create a bright future, inspired millions to say "Yes, we can."
We have such a nominee. We have such a leader. Yes we can. Ladies and gentleman, the next President of the United States of America: Barack Obama!
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