Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States of America. And, I have to say that I'm pround of our contry for overcoming racial barriers. But why couldn't we have elected a man more like David Palmer from "24"??
Our country needs change. And I do believe that Obama will bring change. But is it really the change we need? We have an economic recession, a record deficit, overstretched military, a huge drug and gang problem, and numerous other problems in our country.
To combat the recession, Obama will offer tax cuts to 95% of Americans. The wealthiest 5%, people who make more than $250, 000 per year, will pay the same or more. Does the average American realize that the people who are wealthiest are the people who give the rest of us jobs?? No poor man ever created jobs for others. If we punish people for making money here, they will simply send more jobs overseas where they don't have to pay the same taxes. And taxing the oil companies will just make them pass the higher costs of operation on to the consumers. We will all still pay in the end...
And the military... Who diesn't want out of Iraq? I would love to see our troops come home. But the fact is that we started something over there and we need to see it through. By removing our soldiers too soon, we will destabilize the fragile government the Iraqis have achieved, and we'll end up with another civil war over there. We don't need another Viet-Nam. Obama supports a responsible withdrawal of our troops; isn't that what was planned all along? I think people have heard what they wanted to hear. Yes, Obama will bring our troops home, but he'll bring them home when it's safe to do so, the same as the Republicans would have.
I just don't know. I'm glad George Bush is done, but I'm worried about the future. I worry that the American public listened more to how Obama said things than what he said. He's a wonderful, charismatic public speaker, especially when compared to McCain's obvious discomfort when speaking to large groups. I wish that I could be hopeful and optimistic, but I'm just not. Even with McCain in office, I would have had reservations. But now, with one of the most inexperienced, liberal politicians at the head of our country, with a Democratic majority in both the Senate and the House, I am very concerned about the future.
I never like to see the same party hold the Presidency and Congress, so I'm of very mixed feelings too. At least the Senate didn't go filibuster-proof.
ReplyDeleteBut I read a fairly conservative writer (forget who, now) who pointed out that Obama will be very, very moderate in at least the first two years, because he will not want to also go down in history as the first *single-term* African-American president. That would be good.
I've also heard speculation that this year's loss might force the Republican Party to come to their senses. I'd kind of like to see a split there, with a nice moderate contingent pulling the centrist people out of *both* parties. I could get behind that.
I'm nervous as well. His tax pledges were full of hot air. My true hope is that he can handle international crisis and protect us from evil. I have a sneaky suspicion that this country will be quite "RED" 4 years from today.
ReplyDeleteThis election was based upon emotion more than issues. Take for example the Howard Stern interviews with folks from Harlin who supported Obama's pro-life stance, his choice of Palin for VP and his desire to stay in Iraq until the war was really won...
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to think that we all need to take a test before we can register to vote...which is a duty by the way and not a "right". If you can't answer the questions that an immigrant must to become naturalized then you shouldn't be able to vote in an election that bears so much importance not only to our own country but the security of the world. Radical, but probably something that would help us out more then any party's nominee would.
I know of many people who voted for specific candidates that couldn't tell you one position they had on any issue. All elections are won or lost on other factors I think, but this one especially. I'm uneasy about cuts to military spending, that doesn't mean they buy fewer bombs or that admirals make less than $11,000 a month just for their housing, that means joe navy who was making $550 every two weeks now makes less and his wife will get denied trips to the doctor more often. They don't ever cut where they should, they cut where there is almost nothing left to cut. But oh well, we are stuck with him now, need to try to make the best of it.
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