Most dominant societies such as the United States nearly always fail from within because they become too top-heavy. By outsourcing manufacturing and basic service jobs, you tend to make a society full of people with expectations of being white collar workers with no worker bees. Ancient Rome fell because no one wanted to be a military grunt to protect it. They relied on non-Romans, or "outsourced" military personnel, who were only in it for payment, not loyalty.
As for Obama hitting the floor running, he has, WOW. The first thing he did was reverse some late decisions made by Bush, such as stem cell research and bioenergy alternatives. I am assuming you were joking about your first comment and rick, being rick, needed to fully respond to it without that consideration.
Plus, Obama has already done the one thing that gives us all optimism for the future of our country - hope.
Without hope, which truly was non-existent the last three years <in particular> under Bush, no one was likely to step up and create those new jobs, solve the energy problems, feed the hungry, and protect victims of disasters. The Kennedy mantra of doing it yourself for the good of all has been openly solicited by Obama to encourage Americans to help solve America's problems.
Maybe if he can convince Detroit to stop manufacturing cars that require rain forest fuel and Giant Panda blood to run on and commit to creating a car that runs on a renewable energy source, we can stop relying on the whims of OPEC countries.
