Posted by
Hannah on Friday, September 26, 2008 12:00:00 AM
Are we the oysters in the poem, The Walrus and the Carpenter? Obama has no more experience than Palin does, and definitely not as much experience as McCain, so he paints it as though that gives him an edge to usher in much needed change. His shady past, his political flip-flopping, his lack of experience, has all been larely ignored by the main stream media, and therefore, the popular American conciousness. He's called McCain out of touch and yet he still some how thinks that it's in touch to promise universal health care, and large tax cuts, and new sources of energy, when we are in a state of financial crisis. There is no guarantee he can do what he proposes to do, as with all presidential candidates, but yet there is a confidence that he inspires. Maybe over confidence, or even naiveness. I can't help but wonder what would really happen if he were elected president. Many people would expect change. How much change can Obama really facilitate. The change he speaks of is vague. Yeah, we need a change, but will the change that he has in mind lead us into socialism. Our gov't is not immune to corruption. No gov't is. Both candidates have their fair share of dirt to be exposed. McCain has sponsored his fair share of mud slinging ads. McCain has had more time to make mistakes, and some could argue that he's got his finger prints all over the current financial situation...
Let's be realistic about where we are. Let's be realistic about the fact that most Americans can't afford to buy new vehicles that run on alternative energy sources right now, anymore than we can afford to continue our dependency on foreign oil. There will have to be some transiton time, and we need a solid plan to obtain that goal. Most of all, let's be realistic about our role as voters. We need to be aware that right now, we are likely to be told anything at anytime, and that we are a means to an end. Who has our best interest at heart? Possibly no one, so who comes close?
Obama does inspire hope, but we need more than hope, and we need it fast. Issues like the enviroment, health care, gay marriage, and women's reproductive rights (including reproductive issues that don't relate to abortion) are important issues to many people. The problem is: nothing can really be done about any of those issues until our national security is restored and of course we can afford programs to establish them. Our national security and our economy must be dealt with immediately. Our national debt can't be ignored forever! These things are the foundation of our gov't. Now is the time to vote for who has the experience and the support necessary to get the job done, not the person who looks better on camera or who seems to give speeches with greater ease.
It's silly, mindless, and dangerous to support candidates based on how comfortable they are speaking to great crowds of people, or who's better at delivering zingers on the platform. Even more rediculous for people to faint and swoon over one. Stalin, Hitler, and Napoleaon were very persuasive and opportunistic leaders. The Beatles brought about a cultural change and padded their pockets just by becoming the voice of many young, acid tripping, Americans. They knew how to inspire hope and they knew how to use that to there own advantage. Just because a leader is capable, it doesn't mean his/her intentions are pure. It would behoove us all in these very troubled times, to look deeper and heed some of the warning signs that seem to be blarring at every turn. McCain and Palin may not have the cult following that the Obama /Biden ticket does, but they seem to have the American People's best interest in mind when making tough decisons. They don't mind being the odd man out, the under dog, the maverick. Then again, that could all just be another political ploy to get our vote.
Obama has a lot at stake and a lot to prove that does not have anything to do with the best interest of the American people. As for McCain, why would a Vet. want to become president at this stage in his life? What does he have to gain, or better yet, what does he have left to lose?
We must make shrewed judgements about these candidates, and must inform ourselves of the facts. If we just go with the flow of the mainstream media, we are likely to follow the walrus straight into his kitchen and then onto his dinner plate.