Shit.
I just wrote and incredibly long post about why I can’t understand how people are going to let ignorance get in the way of the facts in voting this election, but apparently, my CPU usage has been exceeded, and when I tried to save it, WP ate it.
Mainly this sudden desire to talk politics again (the frequency of which has been marred by a past of ridiculous conversations with some readers) was sparked by a very ignorant conversation with my mother last night, who proved to me that Americans really only listen to what they want to hear, and then they make decisions based on only those observations. So this morning, I wanted to be sure that I was informed. I went to McCain’s website, and his wikipedia page, and read his stance on the issues. I also read Obama’s stance on those same issues. After I read both stances, and compared them, I really began to think about how our “society” is supposed to work. I can’t imagine that you would want to make things worse off for anyone; because, after all, isn’t this supposed to be a free and just society? Yet, after seeing how flawed many of McCain’s plans are with respect to the average American, as well as considering who he is as more than a candidate, I can’t help but wonder why there are tons of people out there that are willing to ignore injustice that will certainly affect them, just because they see one small feature of something in one candidate (fear?), that makes them choose him over the other.
I have not only read about McCain, but I have also watched how he uses fear and anxiety, much like Bush does. I feel even more like he is disconnected from the average American, and as such, cannot understand why people cling to stupid shit about Obama (like that he was born into a Muslim household, even though he isn’t Muslim now, and why that should matter; and what is wrong with Muslim’s anyway?), true or not, and let that make their decision for them. Vote for whomever you want to; I respect the fact that you are even voting, and I know that most of you have already decided. I know I have, and it isn’t for McCain. There are MANY reasons why not, but the main one, is because when I hear him speak, and I read his stance on the issues, I see more and more how disconnected he is from the general American public, and I don’t feel like he represents me at all; I don’t think he represents the majority of us. I have given him the mic, and now that I have heard what he has to say, I will say that he was unable to scare me into voting for him.
With all of this being said, I will say this: It is paramount that the strong help carry the weak. It is a fundamental trait of a successful society. It has been this way since man first grouped together and settled down on the first farms; and even before then, it was a requirement for us to survive as hunters and gatherers. It has allowed us to grow and flourish on this planet, and it is only through pulling together, and watching each other’s backs, that our problems are going to be solved, and things are going to get better. If we make decisions based solely on being the first one to the top of the ladder, our entire society will suffer; except the ones at the top. Those are the very ones that care more about dollar signs than they care about people and are currently the ones that are taking everything they can, and running the rest of us into the ground.
So again, after reading McCain’s stance on the issues, and judging him based on what he says and does, I can’t help but wonder, why should we hand the reigns over to another guy that shares the same values? I personally just don’t understand that at all. If you don’t see that, that’s something that escapes me, because I really did try to give this guy the benefit of the doubt. It isn’t his fault that he is rich; but what he has said about his plans for our country has definitely indicated that he is not right if we want things to get better for the average Joe/Jane. He has some good ideas, so please don’t think that I think he has all wrong notions, but the bad certainly outweighs the good, and I really hope he doesn’t have the chance on unleash them on this country; I honestly don’t think that our society will survive. We are cannibalizing ourselves, and electing another cannibal as our leader is a really bad idea.
McCain is far beyond what I can even comprehend as what one would call rational or even informed. He doesn’t think beyond a certain point, and even when he is given more information, he ignores it. It is why he still supports a war on Iraq, and it is why he will not answer the call to those screaming for help. If you need more convincing as to how out of touch he is, watch this:
I am just baffled at the willful ignorance he employs, and that of those that support him. I just hope that enough people are paying attention, listening, and finding out for themselves how wrong he is for President, and they get over any issue they have against Obama, and vote for him instead. Since this is a two party system, voting based on principle, history, or made up/incorrect character flaws is not only ignorant, it is dangerous and you will feel the consequences.
As I said, vote for McCain if you must, I respect your decision; just make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons, and that you are fine with all of the bad that will most likely come with your decision. If you aren’t a member of the upper crust who definitely does benefit from his plans and ways of working our society, can you do me a favor, and tell me, honestly, why you think he is the one to lead?
“It is paramount that the strong help carry the weak. It is a fundamental trait of a successful society.”
Actually, that’s a trait of Marxism, a failed society.
As for McCain supporters all being stupid, well, Obama is making a lot of empty promises that would no doubt run the economy into the ground. The other day he admitted that with the bailout there is really no way to pay for his promises. His answer for every issue is a giveaway to the “right people”, meaning “class warfare”. And he backs that up with venom.
Further, he has changed his position on every major issue after wrapping up the nomination, so I don’t even know how you can know for sure what you are even voting for. Yet you think Obama supporters are *not* stupid??? He has already screwed over the people who voted for him and they still adore him.
Unlike most Obama supporters I’m happy to see you did actual research, but sad to see that you like the idea of a welfare state and dismiss hardworkers and high achievers as “stupid” for liking a guy who is opposed to (most) giveaways.
I think we’re fucked no matter what to be honest. I don’t talk about politics much but I just can’t vote for McCain. Even My Grandmother who Loves the Man to Death told me She’s not gonna Vote for Him and that is enough for me right there. Not that I hadn’t looked into both sides before talking to her and made my choice already. But hearing her say that after the years of hearing her say nothing but wonderful things about the guy made me know I’ve made the right choice for me.
I hold on to some hope that with Change will come something new and better. Things have to get better. Because the past 8 years have made me sick! Just pure Sick!!!
I say we need to Pray for our Country my Brothers and Sisters for we are all in the same hand basket and when shit hits the fan it gets on us all. For real no matter who You pray to get down on your knees or however you do it now and ask The Universe, God or Goddess by any name you call them to send answers to problems our nation faces. Give Our next Leader the Strenght, Courage, and Power to make the changes that need to be made.
I’m worried the dollar bill has become too powerful. It’s worthless in all truth yet It still runs everything. And hear we are again hearing “Billions” and that scares the shit out of many of us Americans. Many of us are in fact Stupid. Some can’t even tell you how many Zero’s make up a Billion. And many of us who haven’t given up the hope will go vote knowing it really doesn’t matter cause the electorial college is all that counts cause they be the smart ones in the states, right? Yeah, We the People and all that… I’m gonna vote, because I hold on to hope and I’m gonna Pray. Change is Coming one way or the other…
Knowledge is Power. Communication is the Key. Thanks Duane. :hug:
The best thing about your commentary is that you back it up with actually doing your homework. Too many people just rely on the MSM or, even worse, partisan pundits that spoon-feed them what they think their followers need to hear. I believe I’m guilty of this at times, but I will at least listen to an opposing opinion.
And since when did helping the less fortunate of our society become Marxism? Not helping them is known simply as “greed”. Sad.
“And since when did helping the less fortunate of our society become Marxism? Not helping them is known simply as “greedâ€. Sad.”
I think you are confusing “charity” with “fundamental trait” as expressed through government (that is, forced). Such coercion is itself a form of greed.
bugboy:
Actually, it is a basic principle of all society, and it is the reason that our society exists today. All societies contain traits of Marxism, and I would argue that many of those traits are necessary to maintain some social structure without total chaos and collapse.
Nowhere in my entire post do I call anyone stupid. This is a prime example of hearing what you want to hear, and then using that as fact.
If you consider the state of the economy, and the history of Republicans in office since Reagan’s era, there is a STRONG argument that McCain is doing the exact same thing. Fact of the matter is, that each of them are making promises, but the proof is in the pudding; we have to see which one will actually do something about it. I believe that Obama’s plan has the heart of America more in mind, rather than just the upper crust.
Is this a fundamental Republican belief, that everyone that needs help is getting handouts, and therefore, doesn’t want to work or do anything but get more handouts? Because, while that may be the case for the minority, it is not the case for the whole. That is the same mentality as cutting off your hand to spite your finger; it is ill informed, and very rash. Again, making decisions without all of the information is dangerous.
Evidence please.
Again, you are putting words in my mouth. I don’t dismiss hardworkers. In fact, I applaud people that make it to the top. Bravo!! In fact, I hope that you have an incredibly lavish livestyle. BUT, you want to live in a society? You have to participate; which means paying your fair share. Same goes for those that will receive help to live. I swear, it really frustrates me that people are so anti-welfare, because it really shows how clueless they are about how quickly you yourself could be in need of assistance. I don’t believe in free handouts, I never said I did. I think that if you receive help, you have to earn it. I will say it again, I don’t believe in free handouts; and I don’t think that Obama does either.
I think that you have a problem with hearing something such as “government assistance”, and you interpret that as “blank check to welfare people”. That is wrong. I am definitely more conservative than you give me credit for, and I don’t think that Obama is so socialistic that he is just going to ride around throwing dollar bills out the window to poor people. There must be balance, and in order to achieve this balance, there has got to be some leveling; the rich can’t have everything. Perhaps they could all do as Richard Branson, and buy their own island, therefore eliminating the need to live in this society, but since they cannot, I think that in order for our society to survive, we ALL have to contribute to it. If you have more, you simply give more. That’s it.
Again, if you don’t want to participate in our society; LEAVE. You have to give back. We all have to give back. If you don’t like that, go somewhere where that isn’t part of the rules. I just don’t understand why people are so afraid of giving money to help make it better for everyone?? Shit, Republicans make you pay taxes too; so why is it that Democrats get such shit for asking for the same goddamned money? I don’t get it.
You said: “I am just baffled at the willful ignorance he employs, and that of those that support him”
And then said: “Nowhere in my entire post do I call anyone stupid. This is a prime example of hearing what you want to hear, and then using that as fact.”
I’m not sure if you were intending to parse the technical differences between “ignorance” and “stupid”, but you said what you said.
“each of them are making promises, but the proof is in the pudding”
Obama really has no significant track record of accomplishment as Presidential qualifications. McCain, Biden, and Palin all do.
“Evidence please”
I’ll make a list:
-campaign finance
-2nd Amendment/gun rights in DC
-Iraq withdrawal (staying longer)
-FISA reform
-Imposing the fairness doctrine on talk radio.
-Raising social security taxes
-offshore drilling
- Rescending Bush’s tax cuts.
“Again, if you don’t want to participate in our society; LEAVE. You have to give back. ”
I like to give back as a true act of charity of my own discretion, not a room full of Democrats who want to get re-elected, and allow problems to get worse. Though I believe in helping, I see no proof of that to be a necessary trait of a successful society. A totally selfish society can be successful. There is a difference between participation and coercion.
ROAR!
Bugboy:
Ignorant does not equal stupid. Perhaps you should explore the definitions of those two very different words.
So you are basically saying that from 1997-2004 as a state legislator, nor from 2004-now in the Senate, he has accomplished nothing? Um, you are really, really wrong on that one. Grasping at straws in a phrase that comes to mind with that “argument”.
As for Obama changing his position on issues, you may be correct about some of them, but not all of them has he changed his position (especially the Iraq pull out). I again, may not agree with everything Obama believes and represents, but again, based on his current positions, I believe he is a much better candidate for the majority of Americans, while McCain is not. Should I even bother to ask if McCain has every changed his position on anything? In the same vein, should I even bother to ask if are you a believer that someone who gains new evidence, or information on a subject, should just “stay the course”, or is it fair for them to alter their original position to accommodate new information? Doing the first is ignorant, and willfully so. Regardless if I agree with every change in decision, I agree with most of Obama’s current positions, and disagree with many (but not all) of McCain’s; which was the main point of this post.
Wow, you should really, really check the track record of Republicans, dude. They make you pay taxes too. They make promises, and massively underfund programs, and have consistently caused this economy to go into the toilet; while Democrats almost always come in to bail us out. Seriously messed up view on what is going on does even touch where you are getting this misplaced blame from. Or is Bush a Democrat in your eyes?
A totally selfish society will never be successful. You may believe that, but it doesn’t make it real. Check out a few other selfish societies from the past and see how well they are currently holding up; mainly Rome comes to mind…
And Bugboy, again, I don’t think Democrats are perfect, in fact, most politicians are far from perfect. Ideally, a non-politician would make a better choice for president, because they would not be coerced by money, influence, and power. I want someone that has the values that represent the American public; ALL of it, and it just so happens that the best FIT is Obama. Again, we only have two choices here… I really doubt that either of them is the BEST one in the world, but I have to go with one, and therefore, I am choosing the best one out of the two. (But I am sure that there is someway that you can twist that as well…*head/desk*)
“I want someone that has the values that represent the American public”
That would be John McCain, as he is a true centrist. He has pissed off far more Republicans than Obama.
As for the cause of the current financial crisis, I’m curious how you will explain this and want to see your thoughts:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print
OR…if the above link is too garbled try:
http://tinyurl.com/6lp5qu
“Ignorant does not equal stupid. Perhaps you should explore the definitions of those two very different words.”
Ah, so you were intending to parse the technical differences between the two words. Sigh…
“he has accomplished nothing?”
Nothing noteworthy insofar as presidential credentials are concerned.
“Should I even bother to ask if McCain has every changed his position on anything?”
-Bush Tax Cuts (he voted against them, is now for them)
-Offshore Drilling (against it when gas was $1.32 per gallon, for it when it got to $4.32).
-Immigration Reform
-may be more, those are the ones I remember.
But note: his changes are from center/left positions TO rightwing positions, so since he is an “R” (despite being a centrist) these changes are well-received by his party. Obama’s changes? His early supporters should feel betrayed by his sudden move to the center. This is why “D’s” can be so easily called flipfloppers (though everyone does it).