I figured it was inevitable. I'm no fan of the man's policies on some issues, and surprisingly, I agree with a few.
I never feared an Obama presidency. What I feared, however, was a total Democrat majority in the House, Senate, and White House. Where whatever idea comes through the pipeline that favors Democrats, would go through without a hitch.
I don't want socialized medicine. As an aspiring doctor, the idea that the government would tell me who would be allowed to get treatment from me after the years of training and education I want to go through disturbs me. I had a friend who also wants to be a doctor express the same thought.
I could be mistaken on the way it works, and if so, do correct me. I still, however, think personal choice is paramount when it comes to health care. Yes, it is miserable that so many are uninsured. But consider this, if there is no longer a need for private insurance companies, how much damage will this do to medical insurance companies? How many jobs will be lost because of something like this? I think this deserves much more thought than "ooh, free health care for me and anyone else."
I worry that taxation will be done for the entirely wrong reasons. Instead of actually funding the government, it will be done to make things "fair."
He's also stated his plan would actually increase energy costs, bankrupt the coal industry. This is worrying, and seems to be sticking it directly to the middle class. (Transcript from Rush Limbaugh's site.)
I also worry that we'll keep hearing the flat out idiotic meme that any opposition to Obama is based solely on race. I've displayed above a few disagreements I have with him. Not one is based on his race.
But anyway, although I disagree with many policies of the man, I've decided I'll do for him what I did throughout the Bush presidency. There, when I felt the actions he made were thought out and the best available, I supported him. I'm certainly no huge fan of Bush either, but I just don't see how the last eight years were total gloom and doom. So, in the interest of giving anyone the benefit of the doubt, I don't think the next four to eight will be gloom or doom either.
Interestingly enough, I think he's entirely right on an issue he sadly can't change. On Monday Night Football, he claimed that the BCS is terrible, and there should be an eight team playoff to decide national champion. This, in my very biased opinion, is damned right!
So, congrats to Obama, and big kudos to McCain for a wonderful concession speech.
"You Need Not Worry" (To Monica)
1 year ago
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3 comments:
Thanks for the post!
In view of how partisan all political parties have become in Washington and how stubbornly ideological they have grown over the years, I also do not think it desirable for any given party to be able to be rendered impotent by another. This country has consistently profited by the influences of Senate and House members who belong to parties out of power or favor.
I sure didn't think it was a sure thing (the outcome of the election). I've learned from 48 years of living through the “yin and yang” of 10 presidential elections (http://dongerz.livejournal.com/16355.html) that one can be lost (or won) by a misspoken word here or a random event there up until the polls close, especially in this age when technology spreads information (whether it is true or false) in a second.
On healthcare, your points are well-taken, but I believe that something is better than nothing. Many cannot currently afford proper healthcare under the current conditions. I also cannot figure out why many are scared by the word “socialized,” yet they gladly cash their social security checks, go to public schools, travel on public roads and bridges, and benefit from innumerable local, state, and federal entitlement mechanisms without protest. Of course, the most recent example of socialism in U.S. history is the recent 700-billion dollar bailout of privately held financial institutions across the land in order to avoid another Great Depression. I think the word “socialized” is perceived as evil, repugnant, and “un-American” because many people still associate the word with “Communism.” In the Fifties, many people crucified for being identified (falsely or justly) with communism. The ghost of Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his lynch crowd still haunts us. (At one time, McCarthy’s lethal influence was so powerful that even President Eisenhower had to tread softly around him.)
Regarding taxes, check out this article on Warren Buffett’s views on our current tax system (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/tax/article1996735.ece). It’s fascinating. I think Buffett is one of the few fat cats who feels it his duty to pay more in taxes than he does.
John McCain’s speech on Election Night was wonderful. That was the real John McCain so many (me included) have found admirable over these many years.
Again, thank you for your post. I enjoyed it. However, what will all of us bloggers blog about now that the election is over?! I’m sure we will have plenty to talk about when Obama screws up. He will. All presidents screw up because, so far, all of them have been human. That’s why I’ll be voting for Doctor Manhattan in 2012!
:-)
Don
That should have read, "In the Fifties, many people were crucified for being identified (falsely or justly) with communism."
I mistakenly left out the word "were" in my previous comment.
Sorry about that!
Don
If there was any one thing that, to me, would have crippled Obama's campaign, it would have been the "Spread the wealth around" comment. That would have been the end of any other candidate, in my opinion.
Regarding healthcare, it isn't the word socialized that bothers me, as much as the fear that hospitals turn into the DMV.
I believe a solution that would benefit all is a better version of what we have now, a way for those who can't afford it to get coverage or basic healthcare, and those that can can buy other coverage.
The NHS spent a large sum of money on private healthcare for their own employees, which, to me, says a bit. ( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1077117/Taxpayers-fury-NHS-spends-thousands-giving-staff-private-health-treatment.html )
I'm in no way denying the system needs work, but I don't see our current system as completely broken.
I think the method of taxation is the issue, not taxing itself. I still think the FairTax is a superior plan, as shown in an earlier post I made. It's been studied, and has shown the ability to truly help out everyone, not just the rich, or the poor, or the middle class alone.
But hey, I could always be wrong!
-Chris
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