The world we live in today is different from what it was in the 20th century and the early 21st century:

1. The high price of oil is having a adverse effect on commodities, transportation,  and the inflation rate.  Apparently, we're near the end of the line ("Peak Oil") for  fossil fuels.
2. The U.S. Housing Market has been in a recession for over a year.
3. Hedge fund managers have been pushing oil, food and gold higher through market speculation that is often hidden behind the non disclosure wall of hedge fund secrecy.
4. Terrorism is often supported from profits from the Middle East Oil Industry and poppy growth in Afghanistan.
5. The U.S. deficit has ballooned trillions of dollars from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
6. Confidence in U.S. financial institutions have eroded because of the subprime mortgage crisis.
7. The U.S. stock markets are down 6.00% on the year while the Canadian stock market is up 6.00%.
8. The slowness of North American automakers to make fuel efficent cars, vans and trucks has resulted in massive job losses for GM, Ford and Chrysler. Alternate energy vehicles have yet to come on the scene in a significant way.
9. There are still hundreds of coal producing plants in the U.S. and the world that should be discontinued.
10. Barack Obama has to be more specific on the changes needed to escape the monopoly of oil producing cartels.