Call me gullible, call me naïve, call me a turncoat, or call me selfish for deep down inside I cannot help feeling very hopeful that this election represents true change.

I bet many others who did not vote for the victor share my feelings….

During his campaign, President-Elect Barack Obama stated he would cut taxes for all but the rich and allow people to keep their health-care plans or opt for a less expensive government plan. His stunning victory tells us that among other things in wanting lower taxes and less expensive health care plans, the American people agree.

This makes me hopeful…. We live well and are happy but,

With two minor children, my family’s net income places us far below the middle class making the prospect of less expensive health care and lower taxes exciting.

Not counting our children, my wife and I pay $1,367.58 per month for mediocre health coverage. We have no serious medical problems. However, at this time, pre-existing conditions prohibit seeking lower premiums – I am fat and she has high blood pressure and migraines.

Unfortunately, over the last few years even as sales in our business have increased our income has tracked lower and lower (expenses out-pace margin). So when I say I am hopeful I am NOT being ironic or tongue-in-check. I am sincere. My hope is as real as it is great.

In our family owned business, my wife and I work seventy to eighty hours, six days per week, and fifty-two weeks a year. Most every dime we have and many dimes of our bank are invested in our business; we have no 401K and other than a few IRA's in mutual funds (recently greatly demised), we have no retirement plan. We live modestly – our 58-year-old, 980 square foot home and 3/4 acre lot appraises for $92,000.

In 2007, our adjusted gross income from our joint Federal tax return was $41,174.00. Our net taxable income was $20,274. From this, we paid $9,486 in Federal taxes. (Incidentally, we don't cheat. We report every dime of income, so there's no unreported or under-the-table cash flowing our way).

Deep down inside I am very hopeful that this election represents true change - the least of which is lower taxes and health care costs. Believe me getting a check from instead of sending one to the government along with a better, lower cost health- plan will be blessings to my family.

While my choice for President was not victorious when the changes promised by President-Elect Obama bring my family greater prosperity, I will rejoice in this Democrat victory.

In the meantime, I feel that my job, everyone's job is to hold our elected officials' (donkey and pachyderm) feet to the fire making sure they follow through on their campaign promises.

Isn't this our real hope for change?