|
Edited on Thu Sep-11-08 12:27 AM by MadMonkey
A friend of mine, and recovered drug addict asked the question "Why should I vote?"
This was my typed reply to that question.
"why should I vote now?"
Because it is important.
We are in two wars right now, and McCain seems unnervingly at ease to stay at war or occupy foreign countries for decades at least. This war in Iraq is costing the country $10.3 billion dollars a month or $3,973 per SECOND! Add Afghanistan to that and you have over $13 billion per month! Bush and McCain have talked about taking the war to a third front, Iran. McCain was even so crass as to sing “bomb Iran” to the tune of “Barbara Ann.” That is so reckless and scary I can hardly believe he is even close to being elected and having the power to do so.
The cost of not only taxpayer dollars for generations to come but loss of human life would be immeasurable, but an example of the human toll is that since the start of the war in Iraq, the civilian death toll is projected at between 87,062 – 94,990!
Gas prices on the other hand will most likely remain unaffected either way. Over the summer, McCain pushed for a gas-tax holiday, which would have reduced the price of gas by about 18 cents per gallon, but all it really does it prevent the highway department from collecting taxes to maintain roads, while keeping the consumption level high or unchanged.
We saw the effects of poor road/infrastructure maintenance when that bridge collapsed in Minnesota just two years ago, the state knew there were problems, but lacked the tax funds to repair it. Meanwhile, without the gas tax holiday this summer, prices at the pump still went down, because demand went down due to the fact that people were more prudent/aware of their fuel consumption, like Obama knew they would. In fact his suggestion that is you merely kept your tires inflated properly, Americans could conserve as much gas as offshore drilling would supply (true by the way) was made fun of by McCain. This seemed to frame the debate on oil consumption as something that the average citizen could do now and save money vs. money the oil companies could generate in the future. By the way also, McCain’s senior policy advisor Charlie Black was an oil lobbyist for Occidental Petroleum Corp, Yukos Oil, and Chinese National Off-Shore Oil Corp.
The current cry of "drill, baby, drill!" at the Republican convention seems to only feed into the desires of the oil companies. What this would do is not only put protected land at risk, including the Alaskan Natural Wildlife Refuge, but create a larger revenue stream for the oil industry, which would sell this newly drilled oil on the world market. We would not drill for oil and just keep it all for ourselves. A large part of the oil may be sold to China, which by the time these drilling sites are actually producing oil (10-30 years from now) could possibly be the world's largest consumer of oil. Not only does this perpetuate the heavily polluting use of oil, but actively endangers the earth’s shrinking natural habitats. It does nothing to reduce the use of a non-renewable resource that actually harms the atmosphere, it adds to it.
If you want to talk about the growing or shrinking role of government, historically democratic presidents/congress create more government by protecting rights and helping people that need it (social programs) whereas republicans create more government through more prohibitive measures (prisons and military.) Government will likely always grow as the population grows, but what role do you want it to play is the real question. FDR created social security, whereas Bush created the patriot act.
Another example is in the case of drug abusers, under a republican regime we often see harsher penalties for offenders/addicts and under democrats more social programs/treatment would be offered. Basically we are looking at treatment vs. imprisonment for people that are sick.
Not to mention the role of health care and the availability/affordability if it. Republicans by and large are for privatization of the system which would make it more of a luxury item available only to the rich instead of a right of everyone to competent medical care. I mean, I have health insurance and health care is too expensive for me. But if my employer did not offer health insurance I could expect to pay four times the amount to see a doctor. I would just as soon pay taxes that cover more inclusive heath care than to pay my corporately owned insurance company to decide on what care I do or don’t need. This current structure of big, corporate health insurance being the only option was helped largely by Richard Nixon, (republican and wiretapper,) and his friends at Kaiser.
If you look at how the constitution has been rolled back since Bush has been in office, look no further than the Patriot Act. Since it has been in affect we have kept a large number of people in prison without being charged, increased government surveillance on American citizens and allowed the use of torture as a means of information gathering. Even though McCain himself runs on his status as a tortured POW (what has that done to his mental state?) he supported the patriot act.
On a less policy driven argument, Obama has been a large source of inspiration to millions of people, not only in America, but worldwide. Wouldn't that be great to have a leader of our country who you weren't embarrassed of? Would it be more inspiring to elect some one to the highest office who came from nothing, worked with the community, made history at the one of the most prestigious universities in the country, taught constitutional law, and led a grass-roots campaign to become the first minority American president forty years after civil rights were finally granted to his race and 150 years after the abolition of slavery? Or elect some one who was born the son of a popular naval admiral, graduated fifth from the bottom of a class of 899 at the Naval Academy, was shot down in vietnam, and opposed the Martin Luther King Holiday. Not to mention John McCain is worth over $40 million dollars, while Obama although not poor by any means, just finished paying off his college loans in the last several years. Who do you think can relate to you more?
Also, if some of the tabloid back and forth bullshit has been getting to you, just observe what Obama has been doing in response to the claims of sexism among other outrageous claims. He has continued to focus almost solely on the issues, while so many in the party have been trying to encourage him to take the low road and attack in kind. Do you want a leader who is going to blow-up at his opponents like some kind of hothead? Do you think that would be a good strategy against countries who (unlike Iraq) possess nuclear weapons? Or would you want someone who can stay on a reasonable message and stick to the issues like Obama, who is not known (like McCain) for his famously bad temper.
Plus why do nothing? Voting is almost the absolute least you can do and still be an attempt to make a change. I mean at least a vote is a try, right?
Thanks, I really had to crystallize some of the opinions I have been having lately. This is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the election goes, but I hope it helps to make up your mind. Please register and please vote.
I can't stop thinking about this!!!!
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(25 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
