Obama's election is as profound a sea change in politics as were the elections of 1932 and 1980. With what appears to be at least a 60 vote majority in the House and a 10-12 seat majority in the Senate, the Democrats can pretty well pass what they please. Count on the remaining RINOs like Olympia Snowe and Arlen Spector to oppose any filibuster. Thus, the Democrat establishment will be able to accomplish all its economic and social goals: higher taxes, socialized medicine, restoration of affirmative action, the end of "don't ask, don't tell" in the military, "hate crimes" legislation to repress anti-homosexual sentiments in the media or from the pulpit, restoration of the Fairness Doctrine, national gun registration, etc.
So far, just standard Euro-style social democratic policies that exist in most of the so-called Western democracies. However, Obama sees himself as a "change agent" in the tradition of Saul Alinsky, one of his mentors. His proposal for a civilian defense force as well funded as the military and what appears to be a hidden agenda of universal service are the most telling elements. Most of the military, particularly the combat units, are politically conservative. Many police officers, especially beat cops, are conservative as well. They largely would not do the sort of dirty work that is needed to intimidate dissenters. Also, police forces are largely decentralized, with each department its own little fiefdom. Every would-be dictator sets up his own private army, from Cromwell through Robespierre, Lenin, Mussolini, and Mao to the Iranian mullahs and Chavez. Such a program could be sold to a liberal Congress as a jobs and crime reduction program. Once Obama gets his Red Guard rolling, they could be quickly become a parallel army, in the manner of the SS. They could also serve as a national police force, much as the Gestapo and the NKVD superceded local police agencies.
I fear America is in for a hell of a ride in the near future.
Most of American wealth is produced now in large urban areas, not in the cradle of traditions - Midwest, where many farmers have left the business, leaving their land allocated to residential use or, as a variant, to large agricultural companies. Globalisation made American labour too expensive while before it had gave it extra profits. All these changed the life of most Americans.
Dreaming of old good days isn't enough, a program describing further development is necessary - a program which is based on traditional American values.
The election of a non-American president draws a line under the recent emigration of non-Anglosaxons into the USA, which has changed the situation in some areas to the point that English isn't spoken.
Obama isn't un-American, he just corresponds to the today's America. Otherwise he wouldn't have been elected.
But don't be afraid of America rolling down to the Soviet or Chineese like socialism, German nazism. There is no historical example when such regimes appeared from a rich society like the today's USA.
From the other hand, European-style social-democracy can break the crest of American society. To share other people's money the government must let these others earn it. Higher taxes - less profits, less money to re-distribute. If the government chooses here to raise the taxes again, it's stuck in viciouis circle which leads to an economical catastrophe - than to a civil war and finally, communism. Anyway I think the USA have a certain margin of safety - the EU isn't broke yet.
Universal service is a bad way to offer jobs. First of all, a soldier must be always busy in order to prevent crimes, bullying and etc. It's an ancient Roman rule. Secondly such business provides no useful fruit. In result stealing public money becomes very easy. FDR did better - he built roads - which gave ground for numerous businesses and therefore jobs. Why doesn't America hold such infrastructure building programs instead of distributing food stamps and benefits?
About the possible use of the Obama's conscripted army - well, possible... With this American's foreign debt doubling military expenses with obviously ineffective results... smells very badly.