Obama’s inaugural speech January 20th 2009

My fellow Americans; I stand before you truly humbled by the magnitude of change. Not for my own personal reasons, not for the historical implications of this day, but for the simple reason that the day for true change has come. We are a nation at war and a nation in economic turmoil. Our schools are failing our children, our diplomacy is alienating our neighbors, and our ideals are choking our potential. For more than the past eight years America has failed to live up to the principles we were founded on. For far more than the past eight years America has come up short upholding all of the principles that make this country the shinning beacon of hope for humanity. I am here today to tell you that those days are over. The days when the innocent get trampled and the crooked triumph are over. The days when the creative are stifled and the dishonest are rewarded are over. America will no longer hide from itself. We will no longer apologize for our success, but we will also no longer mask our failures. This is a new day America and it does not just start with me your new president; it starts with you, the American citizen. It starts with black and white citizens, the atheists and believers, the poor and the wealthy, the young and the old; it starts with every member of this country and it starts today!

I want to briefly speak today about our most pressing challenge, our current economic situation. Let me be perfectly clear in this matter: our country cannot flourish without a strong economy. Our economy is the backbone of our society. A strong economy fuels creativity, opportunity, and freedom. It encourages cooperation and demands accountability. As many of you can no doubt attest to we do not currently have a strong economy. Many of you have lost your job, have lost your investments, have lost your home, and are worried about your future. This government has failed you in two very specific ways. First, we have failed to punish the crooks that are now far too prevalent in our society. A government of free people must do everything in its power to neutralize those who would seek to gain over honest citizens through force and fraud. This government has failed to uphold this principle. This administration will correct this failure starting today.
This government’s second, and most costly failure was its attempt to control any economy of free people. Let me not mix worlds and state here and now that we are a capitalist nation. We are not communists, socialists, or fascists. Our citizen’s economic freedom especially means freedom from government manipulation yet that’s exactly what we have experienced for decades. We, the government, are here to protect you from crooks. We are here to make sure your path to happiness is clear of those who would cheat you or force you to act against your own judgment. We cannot provide you the resources to make it big, but if you have the desire and determination to succeed honestly, we will protect you.
We are capitalists. For too long we have been apologetic about what we are. The merits of capitalism are undeniable, but our failures to adhere to its principles are as obvious as they are crippling. We are a nation where citizens are free to pursue their own happiness, so long as it does not impinge on another’s pursuit of the same. What that does not mean is that everyone is guaranteed happiness. Such a thing is impossible to do and has most enthusiastically been attempted in nations that embrace communism, socialism, and fascism. Happiness for all cannot exists where honest personal freedom is a privilege dolled out by the government. Everyone has a chance to be happy in America, and everyone can be happy in America, but no human being or entity composed of human beings can guarantee happiness. This government has spent billions of dollars and countless hours attempting the impossible. Who has paid the cost in this attempt? You have, the American citizen. Your hard earned money has gone to countless government failures in programming; programs better run by you, the American citizen. Your creativity and desire for success have fueled opportunity and prosperity in this country. The honest entrepreneur is what makes this country great and for too long this government has stood in your way. We have tried to encourage those we liked most instead of those that worked hardest. We have supported those that were familiar instead of those that were visionary. We encouraged an agenda and instead stifled countless new ideas and endless possibilities. The day of government controlling your opportunity and manipulating your potential is over. We will no longer stand in the way of honest progress, but make no mistake; we will not tolerate anyone who chooses to crush the American spirit.

Make no mistake, my fellow Americans, the road ahead is hard. We are a nation awakening from a state of ideological atrophy. We have failed to uphold our principles and thus we face a forest of dishonest and crooked institutions. We are experiencing economic challenges not seen in at least two decades. We are at war in not one, but two nations with foes nearly ten years after their attacks. We have significant challenges. Challenges not quickly overcome. Challenges that will take more than just four years to correct. But I say to you now, we can overcome these challenges and emerge stronger than any human being has ever seen. We have a lot to answer for America and I assure you I will make sure we are prepared to answer. We have a long way to go America and I promise you I will work to get us started. We have great things to accomplish my fellow citizens and with your help, your commitment to the principles that make this country so special, we can realize our potential in this most special nation of humanity, the United States of America. Thank you.