The U.S. has elected a new president, Barack Hussein Obama. Along with the dramatic turn in the economic situation, this marks a definite turning point in the history of the country and of the world. Big illusions have been created that Obama will provide “change”. What American workers have voted for is an end to policies that benefit the rich - but does Obama represent real change?

Will Obama repeal anti-labor legislation? Will he implement a national living wage? Will he provide free, universal health care? Will he cut the military budget and invest much needed billions in education, housing and infrastructure? Will he nationalize the energy, auto and airline industries, all crucial for the functioning of the country, to be run under democratic workers' control? Will he stop the raids and deportations and grant amnesty to immigrant workers and their families? Will he launch a mass program of public works to create millions of union jobs, provide housing for all, modernize and expand public transportation and rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure?

Mick Brooks, editor of the Socialist Appeal, talks at the ULU Marxist Society on the significance of the election of the Democrats and America's first black President, and the need for a socialist transformation of society.

Part 1

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Part 2

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