The position of Hillary Clinton at the TEDWomen talks represents that of the Obama Administration.  It is visionary/futuristic/global.  It is interesting that one of Obama’s campaign promises was to change the nature of U.S. diplomacy but you can see that many tracks must first be laid before that train can run because it is a new “line.”  Philosophically, the majority of “we the people” are not YET ready to get on the social change train,  We still want to get on the FRONT of the bus that is headed for WAR, bullying, domination, superiority and violence as the primary way to resolve social conflict…both domestic and international.  You can see that Obama/Clinton believe that the inclusion of more women [known to innately lean toward consensus building] is crucial to our social transition.  They are way ahead of “we the people” (including the business sector, politicians and our present social institutions).  This gap between where we are and where we must go in order to survive and thrive in a global economy is one of the difficulties Obama is having in governing.  He is the enlightened President we need for this kind of social change…but “we the people” don’t know it yet because so many changes that he is making are subtle and incremental.  Many of these changes are being made through the kinds of people he is appointing — particularly women (and a record breaking 150 openly “gay” federal appointees).  For example, according to Irene Natividad, Chair of the Coalition for Women’s Appointments, as of 2009, the Obama Administration had already made over 1000 women appointments but most of these were obstructed by the opposition.  Only 143 of these were approved by the Senate.  Was this a sign of resistance to social change?  At the same time Kathleen Sebelius likened the importance and resistance to health care reform to the struggle of the suffragettes and further emphasized the point that reform would change the world for women. Since then, The Obama Administration has made two Supreme Court women appointees both of whom have strong skills in consensus building.  Recently Obama appointed the much admired and respected social change advocate, Elizabeth Warren, to set up the newly formed Consumer Protection Department. It is noteworthy that approximately one half of Obama’s  70+ federal bench appointments have been women and 43% of this number have been “minorities.”  (Bush’s appointments were 67% White males). Another indication of the fierce opposition to Obama’s predilection for social change involving greater participation of women and “minorities” is that he has received only 36% appointee confirmations in his first year.  This is fewer than any of the 5 Presidents who preceded him.

So, we can see that social change is occurring but it is slow and often imperceptible as was  the case of the Health Care Reform Act.  Most of the population still does not recognize that changes are occurring in the healthcare system.  For some reason (?) neither the administration, the Democratic Party nor Obama himself have chosen to relentlessly  shine a light on these changes  in order to enlighten the public.  But, if you look closely you can see it happening.  Since The President and Hillary Clinton obviously cannot bring about all these visionary changes alone, what are YOU doing in your personal life and/or community to keep the change happening since  WE, TOO, ARE THE CHANGE WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR.