Thursday, October 2, 2008

• THE VOTE - A CRITICAL DECISION IN A DANGEROUS VORTEX

In the midst of frustration resulting from the stress of a protracted war in Iraq, and financial panic sweeping across all of its markets, America prepares to take a momentous action in the privacy of voting booths. Could there be a worst time to be making such a decision?

Events of the recent past have radiated traumatic beams of toxicity onto the psyche of American taxpayers. Some undeniably powerful forces are impacting the population:

• The misguided actions by the White House have resulted in casting a negative perception from international communities that Americans are now tiring of.
• American prolonged presence in Iraq has become physically and financially too expensive, and is contributing a large portion of the national financial hemorrhaging.
• Implosion of the housing bubble, and subsequent home foreclosures have created a maelstrom of uncertainty that has broadly radiated to infect the health of American commerce.
• Animosity toward Republican President Bush has reached an extreme, rendering his Presidency irrelevant in its waning days.
• American capitalism appears to have developed cracks in its foundations as abusive greed and self-serving lack of integrity on the part of some executives, have shaken confidence in its fabric.
• Congress has failed to represent the wishes and best interests of taxpayers, and even in some cases, it has abused power and influence.

America finds itself rapidly dissolving into anxiety as the eye of this vortex crystallizes emotions and apprehension for the future. These forces coming together are reaching a crescendo just in time for a momentous Presidential election. There is concern that this state of fear further dissolves into take-care-of-me, it’s-not-my-fault, please solve-my-problems, make-me-feel-better .

This Presidential election should not disintegrate into a reaction to an existing President. Voters should vote for a ticket that will clean up the corruption that stimulated the current conditions, and allowed a Congress to decompose. This is no time for reflexive voting. Voters must rely on knowledge and track record, rather than sanguine or auspicious enthusiasm.

Integrity is alive and well in the vast majority of American businesses. Voters should support positive stimulation of American ingenuity and not allow nee-jerk reaction that might lead government to bring about measures that can destroy entrepreneurialism. American voters should not support Herbert Hoover type reactions to trade policies, investment and business taxes. Taxpayers should also resist talk of raising general taxes, and should demand cuts in Federal outlays.

Much blame can be assigned to both sides of the political isle for the current state of affairs. It is time for thoughtful decision making on which leader will energize America’s return to confidence, not through rhetoric, but through decisive action.

6 comments:

  1. I agree completely, I think the real problem is the misconception of change. Either party will bring about change, but it is the type of change one must be aware of.

    Personally I see governmental reform as a greater change than opposite policy decisions. Although I'm a registered Dem, I'm against socialism.

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  2. bs....the Mccain/Palin ticket will not bring about change. Mccain 15 years ago, maybe, not now. he is way too embedded in high society to even see the need for real change. the man is worth hundreds of millions of dollars and has never lived a day in his life as a "normal" middle class citizen. granted, Obama is also a millionaire at this point, but at least he is "new money" and hasn't had a chance to forget where he's come from. and god forbid anything happen to either man as president, which, considering their individual circumstances, is of higher risk with both candidates, having Palin run this country is a very scary thought. we heard in the debate their responses to such a grim possibility. Biden basically said, that he would carry on his governess holding up Obama's populist ideals(which this country desperately needs at this juncture). Palin's response was very vague and along the lines of "i don't know, i've only been at this thing 5 weeks...". scary indeed.

    government reform is already in motion, our upcoming vote only determines it's speed and direction. the commentator above states he's a Dem, but is against socialism.....that is a common feeling among many americans both Donkeys and Elephants...it is funny that the commentator posted this on Friday Oct 3, the exact day and almost the exact time that the "Great Bailout Bill" was passed by the House of Representatives thereby making the USA the newest and largest Socialist nation in the world. i am neither(clarification below), and i have to say to all of those opposed to socialism, you're opposition to this ideology had dwindling credence 8 years ago. now, that opposition is denial. like it of not, the United States of America is right NOW, as of Oct. 3, a socialist nation. however, we are off to a bad start in our birth as socialists. where most(all?) socialist countries began by socializing/nationalizing institutions and policies that better society (healthcare/hospitals, education/schools, wealth/payrolls/banks) as a whole, the USA, at the behest of the controlling, polarizing, ridiculously wealthy, elite high society that caused the collapse of near-raw capitalism, has made it's first step in the journey to socialism the collective burden of tremendous debt. the "tab" that American society has had thrust upon us is so large it borders on priceless, the current $850 billion price tag does not do even the housing/securities market justice. Let alone the other markets/industries that are certain to follow in the footsteps of it in the coming weeks/months/years.

    the media is not conveying America's new socialist reality clearly to the public, mainly, i think, to prevent it from having a drastic effect on the election. the only person on television that has even tried is Lou Dobbs(it pains me to say that...even though we're both independents, i'm not a fan of his). however, the writing was is on the wall and those who can read it understand. the choices we have now as the voting public is whether to correct our first step and how our second will be taken. as i see it, the choice couldn't be more clear.

    Obama's vision for public health, education, and Washington lobbying reform is an extremely positive direction. he has even made vague assertions that he would rework the "Great Bailout" shortly after taking office. this would be paramount and crucial to the majority of our society.

    Mccain has remained and will remain suspiciously quiet on his vision. partly because he lacks the vision and, frankly, the understanding of the current state of affairs. his high powerful, high society puppet masters however, understand completely. they will certainly push him to "nationalize"(because "socialize" is a bad word) more of the debt that THEY accrued at the expense of the world. it is also seemingly obvious that Mccain, as a rather, gung-ho lifelong(family legacy) military man presiding over a country currently involved in an occupation in Iraq, a hot war in Afganistan/Pakistan, and a new cold war with Russia/Iran/Venezuela, will "nationalize" armed service. that's right, i state it with the utmost confidence right NOW, and let it sink in....if Mccain is elected, he WILL institute a military draft within his first year in office.

    the choice is ours...hopefully.

    concerned patriot,
    SCAL

    Correction: i'm a NJ resident and registered Dem in the primary to vote for Obama, and after this race is over will re register back to Independent(read:Eagle/Flying Squirrel)

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  3. I also agree but let's stop treating socialism like it's some horrible, terminal disease. Certain aspects of "socialism" can be good. We pool our resources (taxes) and keep our infrastructure healthy - bridges, roads, dams and the like. When you think of fire and police protection then you can also see it as a form of socialism. Same with some form of national health care. It's like one giant insurance pool. We all pay into it and we all have access. Those who prefer or who can afford private insurance can do so but at least everyone will have access to preventative care. NeoCons (not the true Republicans) would take our resources (taxes) and give it to private companies at triple the cost and then take away oversight so we won't be able to see that the jobs are done properly. Look at what happened in Iraq. A private contractor did such a lousy job wiring showers that well over 10 troops have been electrocuted to death. Many more given nasty shocks. Privatization isn't the answer to good government. Look at Wall street. Take away regulation, oversight, and control and they go nuts, gutting our financial soundness for a blood fest of greed. Yes, we need change but we have a better chance of that with the Dems in charge. Sadly, there are too many Blue Dog Democrats in the Senate who vote more often with the Republicans than their own party but with more Dems they might not be so eager to continue the Bush policy votes. We have to get a solid majority in the Senate so we can stop the constant filibuster threats. This year alone, they merely threatened to filibuster and Reid folded on the issue. That's why we need to get that milksop out and replace him, perhaps with Hillary Clinton. Change has to come from the bottom up and just complaining about it won't make it happen. Like the old saying goes "Freedom isn't free". Sitting around and expecting someone else to do the hard work to keep alive won't cut it.

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  4. Agreed that the Bush effect is not helpful to the electoral process, but otherwise I see most of the list items as good reasons to have a vote. I suspect the people are more cool-headed right now than the panic in the government and media would suggest. This election presents the voter with real decisions to make, which gives some power back to the voters. Much better for democracy than the average election where there's nothing more compelling than just voting the incumbent back.

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  5. Socialism failed. Look at the USSR. Socialism is suppose to be a pure Democracy where everyone's needs are met. The true path to that goal is capitalism. Capitalism is based on a understanding of human motivation. We will turn into vegetables if all our needs are met by simply giving them to us. It's that's simple.

    The problem here is not capitalism. It's the lack of ethics and fair play by the wall street and Washington players and poor umpiring by the government and essentially you and me including the media.

    The reason the dollar says In God We Trust is that, in the end, our system is based on the faith that our people will more likely then not follow the Golden rule. No dictator and legislature or Socialist system can replace the innate human will to succeed and do good by that success. And the reason that God and family are good things to be promoted and cherished is because players who value those things are exactly the players we want in our capitalists ball game.

    My suggestion is more Capitalism, not less, and more teaching of ethics in schools, more freedom of open religion and free association, and a lot more thankfulness for the good our Capitalist system produces for everyone.

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  6. History has proved that nationalization of any industry has almost always ended up a failure. The French have provided the world with the best examples on this subject.

    -Tejus

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