Let's forget Great. Let's shoot for Decent maybe? Possibly even skirt with Good. A reality check. Somewhere the nation of Jefferson, Lincoln, Henry Ford, welcoming-arms and work ethic started proclaiming things instead of being them. We preach morality while polluting the earth at horrifying per-capita levels. We rank about 23th in educating our children. Right there behind Latvia. We've largely traded a production economy for a speculation one. As the world's richest nation, we can't see fit to feed our own hungry. The latest stock figures: Jimmy Stewart down, Gordon Gekko up.

I'm not totally naive. I know too that Jefferson was trysting with his favorite "property," Ford dabbled in fascism and all sorts of sins have always been committed in the name of democracy.

Still, I cling to the idea that there was a time when we were a beacon. When corporations were out to make a fairly honest buck. When our global actions had some co-efficient of morality. When government existed as check and balance against greed and avarice instead of its accomplice. I also am eternally grateful that I rant here without fear of imprisonment, exile or torture. And that most of the world would trade places with me in an instant.

But, back to the stump. I don't see McCain as stupid or evil. I'll even, of the two candidates, grant him his coveted maverick hat. And I view Obama's flip-flop on campaign finance the single most disingenous move of the campaign.

Still, I'm a Barack man 100 percent. Why? It goes back to Greatness and Goodness. He knows the difference or, more accurately, the similarities. At heart, McCain clings to the same unilateral, imperialist, shoot-first-talk-later worldview that got us into this mess in the first place. And some part of us (individually, collectively) is far too willing to goosestep along.

In the face of this economic tsunami, these heartbreaking wars, this climactic wake-up call, we need to rise above jingoistic chakras. That's the Change that needs to happen. It's time to face up to what we've become and become better. That's the opportunity of these trying times, and of this election.

Jim Carey is creative director for a Portland advertising agency. He lives in Northeast Portland.

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