“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility–a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship.”
— President Barack Obama, from his inaugural address today. As he noted, government–expanding now like practically never before–can help us only so much. Recovery depends primarily on “the faith and determination of the American people.” See Pattie’s post today, The new era of responsibility. –Jessica Shambora