While some are still in denial, most agree that with the election of Barack Obama and the new Congress a new era has been entered. This is not only true in the US but also has huge implications worldwide.

Arch-conservative William Kristol (NY Times 1/26/09) described the change this way, “All good things must come to an end. January 20th 2009 marked the end of a conservative era.”

Of course, in this case 30 years of a bad thing came to an end.

Kristol and his political kin were in a state of great depression after January 20th. On the other hand tens of millions poured into the streets; celebrating, dancing, singing crying tears of relief and welcoming the end of the conservative era.

This was no ordinary election – nor is this an ordinary time the country is going through. A historic transition is occurring. Since Ronald Reagan’s victory we have been living through an epoch dominated by an ultra-right, racist, corporate offensive. Today’s new era potentially could be a progressive one with labor and people’s forces making great strides in bringing about a more just, democratic, peaceful society and world. This potential is very much worth fighting for.

The voters did not elect a socialist president and Congress – far from it. They did elect a leadership that could take us toward peace and economic justice. The majority voted for a Congress they hoped would reverse 30 years of damage to democracy, race relations and the well being of working families. The majority wanted to bail out the working-class and middle-class victims of Wall Street’s crooks. The majority wants to help the Main Streets of America.

The new era will not be a post-capitalist – neither will it be post-imperialist. It can however set the stage for big strategic changes in the kind of society we live in. The new framework can set the stage for a more humane and democratic society.

To understand what is happening, one must look beyond what’s being debated in Washington today. To see the real potential, the focus has to be on the newly created and invigorated progressive movements that came to life during the monumental election struggle last year. The labor movement is stronger as are the civil rights, peace, economic and social justice, environment, women’s, youth student and seniors movements. All are on a new level. The new movements that came from the Obama campaigns effort along with groups like MoveOn.org have huge constituencies and are still very active. These new movements can move mountains if united and activated around the issues of the day.

With that in mind I think some really great things are possible.

For example, the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act will lay the basis for a large expansion in the size and influence of organized labor which will strengthen strategically the working-class movement and all movements for progressive change. Everybody who believes in real democracy needs to get aboard.

The passage of new laws to increase taxes on the rich and increase spending for education and mass transit are possible. This would create many new jobs.

The repeal of the “three strikes” and other unjust conservative-era laws would mean that tens of thousands could be decriminalized and restored to live healthy and constructive lives.

Instead of imprisoning the victims of drug addiction, a new universal health care system would provide addicts with access to free well-run rehab centers in every community. Our country could start to build more schools than prisons again.

This new era should put an end to the gangster capitalism that has ruined the nation. It could pass new laws and regulations that would outlaw the criminal behavior that now dominates the financial sector.

In the new era I think it’s possible to rebuild the social safety net and eventually pass a single payer national health care system. I think it will be possible to end to the robber baron type capitalism we have been suffering under that has created the mess the country is in now. It will take real struggle but it’s possible.

A new era could bring new priorities. Beyond the historic stimulus package now offered, I think we could have a long-term effort to seriously rebuild our cities and rural areas with union labor and strong affirmative action that could create millions of permanent jobs - with struggle this is possible.

This new era could open the way for stricter laws against racial profiling, discrimination, police brutality, immigrant-bashing and gay-bashing. It could also mean winning a democratic and humane path to US citizenship for millions of undocumented workers.

Why can’t the new era be a time that we win strong environmental protection, end global warming and where green development becomes the norm? Why can’t it be one where wars over oil and other natural resources will be greatly lessened? Can we not find the path to peace in the Middle East including realizing a two state solution and withdrawing all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan? Again, with struggle, this is possible.

A new era of alliances for peaceful cooperation, real global economic prosperity to bring to an end the billions now living on less than a $1.00 a day is within reach.

However, for this to occur, a central ingredient is required; the movements that helped Obama win, indeed, all movements need the left to help them reach higher levels of consciousness, unity and action. The left is needed to help this new movement take on the difficult struggles ahead.

Yesterday’s narrow tactics of much of the left have got to be abandoned. New and broader tactics are needed to move in today’s people’s movements.

Obama’s election has opened the doors of change and created a new movement that can walk through those doors. If the left is to be effective it must learn to work with people they don’t agree with ideologically and philosophically. Agreement should be on the vital issues of the day.

Those who yesterday defined their “advanced” political understanding by how isolated they were from the political center need to move beyond that kind of thinking. (Not that these were good political practices in the past!)

Today there is a new center and a broad masses that are moving towards the left in their thinking and actions. They are energetic, flexible and tend to reject dogmatic approaches. They are ready for action and most importantly they are less affected by red baiting.

Most of the struggles of the past 30 years were defensive. Some of us are so used to losing that we don’t know how to win.

Addressing the “left,” Linda Burnham made some good points on this matter in a recent paper; “Notes on an Orientation to the Obama Presidency.” She said, “If the criterion is that the only change to be supported is that which strikes a decisive blow at capital, then the gap between where we are now and the realignment it would take to strike such a blow is completely and perpetually unbridgeable”

She calls on the left to “live in the times we’re in meeting the challenges we’ve been given and making the most of every opportunity …” That’s sound thinking for this period.

Much can be learned from the complete panic and bankruptcy of ideas on the right today. They have no new ideas but are adamantly and fanatically against every step the Obama administration takes. They see the politics they advocated over the last 3 decades collapsing here as it has in most of Latin America and around the world. They see themselves becoming more isolated in a rapidly moving process of change that is sweeping the country.

Their era has come to an end and while they would like to revive neo-liberal policies and trickle down on us again, the tide has turned... However, they could come back if the movement for change is derailed. The left has to play an active role in that movement to help prevent that from happening.

This new era is marked by a new spirit and new confidence among masses and political leaders.

The spirit of “Yes we can” – 'Sí se puede' lives.

John Sweeney after a meeting with Obama and labor leaders, at the White House said, “For the first time the White House is the house of working families.”

At that meeting Obama’s people told them to unite into one federation – for that to come from the White House is historic.

In describing the great potential after Obama’s inaugural, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) said, “This election shows that we are prepared to create a truly integrated democratic society.”

Rush Limbaugh openly says that he, “hopes Obama fails.” That’s a voice from the old era…

Harry Belafonte speaking at the Community Inaugural Ball in Washington in January said, “If Obama fails, we all fail.” That’s a voice for a new era.

Sam Webb describes this period as 'a spring time of possibilities.”

I say, “Let a million beautiful flowers of unity, of struggle and change bloom in every community, in every union hall, church, temple, mosque, and people’s organization…a new era is in birth.”