Deciding who will best take the reins as President of the United States is not easy. In 2004, I had no problem deciding who to vote for. Though I do consider myself more of a Republican than a Democrat, I can't stand George Bush. I think he is bad for peace, bad for prosperity, and bad in upholding the "American dream." He embarrasses me.So voting for Kerry was a no-brainer. Want to know the others I've voted for? I'll tell you. I'm OK with the grief you might give me.... In order: Bush (88), Perot (92), Clinton (96), Gore (00), Kerry (04). Don't look like a Republican, do I? Maybe I'm not. But I do lean toward a laissez-faire economic stance.
Now, in 2008, I find myself in a different situation. I need help. I don't know who to vote for. I'd like your feedback. Really. And you don't have to make it public. You can write to me wendy @ wlcenterprises . com. Or you can call me. I sincerely want feedback and input to help me make up my mind.
I have decided that I'll put my cards on the table in this blog. Most certainly I'll say too much. Without doubt I'll be uninformed (about lots of issues). I'm sure I'll be too brief on points that really should be more robustly presented, but this post will likely be too long anyway. There's time to flesh it out....
Here are my cards:
Energy - I want solar energy to be an ambitious national priority (with no borders on where the technologies are sourced). I want whoever wins to raise the bar and commit to a 100% solar power grid in the US before the end of 2019. A proclamation like this, with investment and focus, will do for solar energy what JFK's commitment to go to the moon did for the space race. Achievement in this will facilitate every other category below. We can lead the world in this. We must lead the world in this.
Human Rights - Food, clothes, shelter, education and health care in a non-violent environment; these are what I consider to be basic human rights. Why? Well, those are the things I "expected" to get when I was born. My parents were able to give them to me. In the US and across the globe, these basic needs are not being met. I want a President to put them on a high priority and get them right.
Peace - I have a theory that happy humans are generally peaceful humans. I also believe that if human rights are being met that people will generally be happy. So I want the US to affect human rights (domestic and international) on an equal footing to the things we affect that impact our "national interest." Defending our national interest seems to get us into "justifiable" wars whereas defending human rights abuse seems to not be worth our effort. This is wrong. I want a President who involves us in both. (Note: "National interest" mostly equals oil/energy today. Make the switch to solar and that will change.)
Health - I want everyone to be able to see a doctor and to get the medicine, treatment, or surgery that they need, but (and this is important) I want a competitive supplier environment. I do not want a centralised, government run provider.
Religion - I want religion out of politics. It has no place there. Every person should live according to the principles and morals they hold dear, but principles and morals are (should be) mutually exclusive from religion. There is no reason to justify a principle or moral stance with a religious viewpoint. I want a President who will just be true to themselves and leave religion out of it.
Economy - Greed and growth have a lot to account for the current economic situation. We Americans (generally) live beyond our means. We (individuals and companies) borrow more than we can pay back. We buy more than we can afford. We need to stop. That said, I don't want a President to intervene, I want the market to discourage it naturally (this is that laissez-faire part coming out). I do want Congress to pass laws that protect people from cheats. I do want regulations that make wrongdoing wrong. But I don't want the government to enable greedy, growth-at-all-cost companies and greedy, debt-ridden individuals to be able to mitigate their risk by counting on government subsidies and government protection and government bail-outs (bankruptcy et al). Make them accountable. Make us all accountable.
Taxes - Presidents ask Congress to spend, so really it is Congress who I need to address here. However, I want a President who will propose that we spend money wisely. Who will advocate and champion zero-based budgeting in Congress. Who will approach Congress for money with thought and careful consideration. Who will outsource activities that should be outsourced (spurring the economy) and who will resource the internal affairs efficiently and responsibly. We (the tax payers) are "shareholders" in this "company." We will happily invest capital and operating costs to support our needs. We will even be charitable to those that need it (social programs and international investments). We just want efficiency. All that said, and I still bet we can simplify the tax and spend system and be more efficient (i.e. cut taxes).
OK - that's all. I want responses. I want your opinions. I want you to tell me about the topics that I haven't brought up. I want to know who you think I should vote for. Now you know what's important to me, maybe you have a recommendation?
Below is a letter to the editor that appeared in todays Arizona Republic. Perhaps, noting this point of view may help you. I think I know who this guy is voting for, and I couldn't create a better list of why one should not vote for that person.
ReplyDeleteThank you, from bottom of my tank
Apr. 29, 2008 12:00 AM
Each time I fill up my car. I thank those who helped raise gas prices to current levels. My grateful praise goes out to:
• Politicians and environmentalists who limit the domestic oil supply by restricting drilling both offshore and in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.
• The corporate lobbyists who promoted and the politicians who mandated ethanol, raising world food prices.
• Those who oppose new refineries, raising our reliance on imported oil.
• The "no nuke" lobby for stopping the construction of nuclear plants, unlike France with its 80 percent reliance on this clean, economical energy source.
• The politicians and bureaucrats who mandate unreliable and uneconomical energy sources, such as solar and wind power, while restricting proven reliable technologies that provide energy 24/7.
• Individuals and politicians who believe they can mandate technological solutions and believe they created the Internet, the Toyota Prius and the cellphone.
• And last but not least, my fellow voters who elect those politicians who created this situation rather than demand they lift restrictions on building refineries and nuclear plants and let the market create the solutions. - Charles Williams, Phoenix
Selected reasons that I cannot and will not vote for John McCain.
ReplyDelete1. He's losing it. He is older than me (read ancient!) and can't keep a thought in his head.
2. He is by far the flippinest flopper of the three.
3. He accepts and welcomes the endorsement of the religious right. He will bottomfish in any waters to get votes.
4. He is a Republican. Obstensively that means he 1) thinks the government should outlaw abortion; 2) puts corporations before people; 3) will continue to keep large numbers of troops in Iraq, and may even invade Iran; 4) will try to bolster the oil industry instead of developing sustainable energy resources; and too many more basic policies to list.
I'll be back with more.....
I'm back.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to find one item, any item, that I can agree with McCain on. I have not been able to do that. His ideas for the direction this country should take are sick and wrong. They are wishy washy - it's hard to tell what he favors, since he tells each crowd something different, and sometimes assumes different positions in one sitting.
So, for me, voting for a Republican is out. I can not do it. I'm not, strictly speaking, a Democrat, but I could be. I could never be a Republican.
That leaves two potential Democratic candidates. I will vote for the Democratic candidate, no matter who it is. I have a preference. I see Barak Obama as a breath of fresh air. I hope he is able to get the nomination. Hillary would not be a bad president, but her campaign tactics have turned me totally off. She may not be a liar, but she certainly has a different way of seeing the truth.
I believe that the best ticket for the Democrats is Hillary/Obama. With that ticket the Democrats could lock up the White House for 16 years! But I don't think that will happen. Too bad.
This rambling probably has not helped your decision - sorry 'bout that - but maybe there's some little tidbit.....
Hi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that I can help you make a decision, since I don't actually HAVE to make one in the US election. I ask people who are willing to discuss it with me though, whay their thoughts are. Some how I find myself connected to a number of democrats through the home schooling group. My military friends are...you guessed it republicans.
What my fear is about McCain, is that we won't actually see any change, although he is a different man and may choose different advisors (that would help) commentators are saying he will continue the status quo in the White house. He won't change the war in Iraq strategy in any case.
Personally I would like to see Barack Obama, I am not sure that Hillary is the right person, bush/clinton/bush/clinton...is a bush wife or daughter seeking a political role somewhere for next time?
Ok, thats all I know and I don't even count (electorally speaking).
Love you post, I want all those things too. Juliaxxx