lets get politico...
okay, i don't like to use this forum to air my political propensities and leanings but i feel compelled to offer some observations as we round the turn towards november 4th. of foremost importance, i will be thrilled to see leadership change hands from the current misguided and misdirected administration to someone with some spark and energy. that being said, after watching debates, speeches, and ads the difference between the two candidates is not as striking as they would have you believe. both parties WILL RAISE YOUR TAXES. do not deceive yourself into thinking that one party or the other will reduce or cut taxes to a point that will make life more than bearable for all americans, they will both raise your taxes. next, the amount of real change that either party will be able to bring to washington will be minimal at best. not much changes in washington and, for the most part, the american people like it that way. massive shifts in ideology or political philosophy would cause upheaval and change and people, as a whole, do not like change. the best the new administration can accomplish will be, as the guards on the green mile can, to keep people as calm as possible as they move along in life. i am certainly not advocating that you not vote, PLEASE VOTE. but vote in an informed manner. that means finding out what both candidates really stand for (if that is even possible) and allowing yourself to vote according to what is really of vital importance to you.
one thing that may seem partisan but i feel compelled to share is the seeming apprehension towards anything "intellectual." what does it say about our culture when those who appear educated and informed are looked at with skepticism and fear? why is someone who seemingly lacks the ability to communicate effectively always a victim of "the liberal media?" what attracts a voter to someone who proclaims to know joe and sally six-pack while appearances would certainly indicate that they are completely out of touch with a large portion of that demographic. i want leaders who will be who they are, not attempt to be folksy or down-to-earth in order to win my vote. as a recent bumper sticker i read stated, "i want a smart president this time." that is not to say that our current president or his administration is un-educated or stupid, it is to say look at where down-home, folksy, fireside wisdom has gotten us over the last eight years. we have become more isolated in our ability to connect with those nations who were previously allies and in our ability to remain trusted amongst world powers.
vote with your heart, head, and hands. do not be duped to believe hype that is certainly designed to misguide you.
one thing that may seem partisan but i feel compelled to share is the seeming apprehension towards anything "intellectual." what does it say about our culture when those who appear educated and informed are looked at with skepticism and fear? why is someone who seemingly lacks the ability to communicate effectively always a victim of "the liberal media?" what attracts a voter to someone who proclaims to know joe and sally six-pack while appearances would certainly indicate that they are completely out of touch with a large portion of that demographic. i want leaders who will be who they are, not attempt to be folksy or down-to-earth in order to win my vote. as a recent bumper sticker i read stated, "i want a smart president this time." that is not to say that our current president or his administration is un-educated or stupid, it is to say look at where down-home, folksy, fireside wisdom has gotten us over the last eight years. we have become more isolated in our ability to connect with those nations who were previously allies and in our ability to remain trusted amongst world powers.
vote with your heart, head, and hands. do not be duped to believe hype that is certainly designed to misguide you.
Comments
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7B689FEA4C-8849-4C05-A89E-C9BC7FFFF64C%7D/2008USELECTIONGUIDE_COMPREHENSIVE_rev100208.pdf
Also, normally I may agree with you on the limited power of the president, but I disagree in the event of a financial collapse. FDR's plan of the creating jobs by building up the infrastructure of the country as well as his fire side chats created more than “calm” but also gave real solutions to the crisis of the 30's.
As I see it Obama might actually push to restructure our infrastructure to a more "green" path. Which, as I see it, was exactly the same thinking of the New Deal of FDR?
I agree with the anti-intellectualism which seems to saturate our society as a whole. Perhaps if we not just mandated school but also subsidized higher education so to make it accessible for more people it would undercut the 'rational' of intellectual as being bad/elite/other?
Just my two cents.