Calls for unity and hope were echoing all over the country last week. Americans were eager to put political squabbling behind them - at least the kind of squabbling that never solves anything.

The sentiment is lovely; long may it continue. But how can it survive when decisions have to be made, decisions that may cost somebody some big money or a chunk of freedom.

Energy policy is a good example. President-elect Obama is committed to getting rid of coal-fired power plants because they put out carbon dioxide and this has been blamed for climate change. Coal is plentiful and cheap. Everything else costs more. So, how about unity when under federal mandates your utility sends you a monthly heat bill for $500?

Democrats in general are committed to taking out the four hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River on the grounds that they kill salmon. With that power gone, what about unity and hope when there's a cold snap or a heat spell and the heaters or air conditioners no longer come on?

President-elect Obama is committed to withdrawing our military units from Iraq. If bloodshed increases as a result and we are faced with the slaughter or imprisonment of everybody there who has ever helped us, how unified are we going to be about that result?

The biggest item is health care. Everybody wants change. But the problem is that health care is getting more and more expensive. No amount of hope and wishing for unity is going to make it cost less. And unless it costs less, the problem of providing it equally to 300 million cannot be solved.

We all would welcome a calmer period in which everybody comes together and rejoices in the fact that America has demonstrated big progress in tearing down racial barriers by electing this president. But we are expecting miracles if we think that the issues will just dissolve in a stew of good feeling and hope. (hh)