what can you do about the presidential election
I'm concerned about this November's presidential election.
Eight years ago, I believe that John McCain had integrity. While I disagreed with him on a number of key issues and wouldn't have voted for him, I didn't find the idea of his presidency abhorrent. That was eight years ago. Now is a different story. In addition to supporting the frequently unconscionable policies of President Bush for the majority of the latter's time in office, Senator McCain has turned on many of his positions that I previously respected. He is now running a dishonest and dirty campaign that even Karl Rove, the previous record holder, says goes too far.
Sarah Palin is even worse. It's difficult to know where to begin with Governor Palin. While I believe her gross lack of experience alone is insufficient reason to condemn her candidacy, the shocking extent to which she is uninformed about key issues to the governance of the United States leaves me no doubt that she is unqualified. Far more than that, though, her character is clearly unfit even for her current office. She may not be a Washington insider, but she practices the nasty flavor of personal politics more suited to the era of the political machine than what we'd like to see in a modern statesman. She attacks -- and if possible fires -- those who fail to toe her line unquestioningly and promotes friends into positions of power they are ill suited to hold. President Bush's cronyism was bad enough and did enough damage to America. "Heck of a job Brownie" indeed.
Barack Obama has clear, workable plans to make our country better. He plans to pull us out of a war we entered under false pretenses. He plans to increase taxes on corporations and on people making more than a quarter of a million dollars a year to stop the country from hemorrhaging money. While he is an outstanding orator, Senator Obama is also a pragmatic strategist who favors ideas that work over those that sound good. McCain's campaign poked fun at Obama's suggestion that people make sure to inflate their tires properly but failed to mention that, were every American driver to do so, it would save more oil than off shore drilling would gain us.
Why am I harping on this? I suspect if not everyone then the vast majority of my friends support Senator Obama. Beyond voting yourself, there are things you can do.
1. Convince your friends to go vote. I'm not talking about arguing with people you know who support Senator McCain. If you're feeling combative, go for it; personally, I think it's unlikely to be useful. Jonathan Swift said that "It is impossible to reason someone out of something that he did not reason himself into in the first place." I fear that on many of McCain's supporters your logic will be wasted.
Far more fruitful ground are the people you know who traditionally don't make it out to the polls. Explain to them how much this matters. In Wisconsin 2004, John Kerry only beat George Bush 50% to 49%. While Obama currently enjoys a larger lead than that here, it's been decreasing in the last couple of weeks with McCain's relentless negative campaigning. Particularly if you live here or in Minnesota, Colorado, Michigan, Washington state, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, or Indiana, this is really important.
If it seems far fetched that a handful of people convinced might make a difference, think about what people do. Friends chat about things that matter to them. If you convince someone you know that this election matters, you're not just getting that person. He or she will tell others, and they'll tell others. Depending on how well networked your friends are, you could indirectly plant the seed in hundreds of minds that getting out and voting in this election matters.
2. Senator Obama's campaign is supported by individual contributors like you and me. Senator McCain's is, like most politicians before him, heavily sponsored by special interests. These interests are corporations looking out for their own fiscal bottom line. They are not good for America.
It is an unfortunate fact that in many cases, money wins elections. If you're more able to get your message out to voters at a greater volume than your opponent's, it increases your odds of winning.
I have already contributed to Senator Obama's campaign. I'm willing to give more, but I'd like to use my willingness to encourage my friends. To that end, I'll match the first $500 of contributions that my friends make*. If you go to Barack Obama's site and make a donation and then leave a comment here that you've done so, I'll make an equal contribution. I hope this will make people feel like their money's going a little farther.
Above all else, please talk to the people you know about this election. Politics in America can be frustrating, and too many people have, understandably, shut off and stopped thinking about it. It's important for everyone to understand that who wins this election matters, that it does have something to do with them, and that they can make a difference.
* - Note that I'm posting this in a couple of places, so this will be split between the two.
Tally so far
birdfigment: $50
mindslide: $100
andy_drake: $50
eupolis: $200
people on facebook: $175
total: $575
Eight years ago, I believe that John McCain had integrity. While I disagreed with him on a number of key issues and wouldn't have voted for him, I didn't find the idea of his presidency abhorrent. That was eight years ago. Now is a different story. In addition to supporting the frequently unconscionable policies of President Bush for the majority of the latter's time in office, Senator McCain has turned on many of his positions that I previously respected. He is now running a dishonest and dirty campaign that even Karl Rove, the previous record holder, says goes too far.
Sarah Palin is even worse. It's difficult to know where to begin with Governor Palin. While I believe her gross lack of experience alone is insufficient reason to condemn her candidacy, the shocking extent to which she is uninformed about key issues to the governance of the United States leaves me no doubt that she is unqualified. Far more than that, though, her character is clearly unfit even for her current office. She may not be a Washington insider, but she practices the nasty flavor of personal politics more suited to the era of the political machine than what we'd like to see in a modern statesman. She attacks -- and if possible fires -- those who fail to toe her line unquestioningly and promotes friends into positions of power they are ill suited to hold. President Bush's cronyism was bad enough and did enough damage to America. "Heck of a job Brownie" indeed.
Barack Obama has clear, workable plans to make our country better. He plans to pull us out of a war we entered under false pretenses. He plans to increase taxes on corporations and on people making more than a quarter of a million dollars a year to stop the country from hemorrhaging money. While he is an outstanding orator, Senator Obama is also a pragmatic strategist who favors ideas that work over those that sound good. McCain's campaign poked fun at Obama's suggestion that people make sure to inflate their tires properly but failed to mention that, were every American driver to do so, it would save more oil than off shore drilling would gain us.
Why am I harping on this? I suspect if not everyone then the vast majority of my friends support Senator Obama. Beyond voting yourself, there are things you can do.
1. Convince your friends to go vote. I'm not talking about arguing with people you know who support Senator McCain. If you're feeling combative, go for it; personally, I think it's unlikely to be useful. Jonathan Swift said that "It is impossible to reason someone out of something that he did not reason himself into in the first place." I fear that on many of McCain's supporters your logic will be wasted.
Far more fruitful ground are the people you know who traditionally don't make it out to the polls. Explain to them how much this matters. In Wisconsin 2004, John Kerry only beat George Bush 50% to 49%. While Obama currently enjoys a larger lead than that here, it's been decreasing in the last couple of weeks with McCain's relentless negative campaigning. Particularly if you live here or in Minnesota, Colorado, Michigan, Washington state, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, or Indiana, this is really important.
If it seems far fetched that a handful of people convinced might make a difference, think about what people do. Friends chat about things that matter to them. If you convince someone you know that this election matters, you're not just getting that person. He or she will tell others, and they'll tell others. Depending on how well networked your friends are, you could indirectly plant the seed in hundreds of minds that getting out and voting in this election matters.
2. Senator Obama's campaign is supported by individual contributors like you and me. Senator McCain's is, like most politicians before him, heavily sponsored by special interests. These interests are corporations looking out for their own fiscal bottom line. They are not good for America.
It is an unfortunate fact that in many cases, money wins elections. If you're more able to get your message out to voters at a greater volume than your opponent's, it increases your odds of winning.
I have already contributed to Senator Obama's campaign. I'm willing to give more, but I'd like to use my willingness to encourage my friends. To that end, I'll match the first $500 of contributions that my friends make*. If you go to Barack Obama's site and make a donation and then leave a comment here that you've done so, I'll make an equal contribution. I hope this will make people feel like their money's going a little farther.
Above all else, please talk to the people you know about this election. Politics in America can be frustrating, and too many people have, understandably, shut off and stopped thinking about it. It's important for everyone to understand that who wins this election matters, that it does have something to do with them, and that they can make a difference.
* - Note that I'm posting this in a couple of places, so this will be split between the two.
Tally so far
birdfigment: $50
mindslide: $100
andy_drake: $50
eupolis: $200
people on facebook: $175
total: $575