Obama's Victory

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.

Voting.

I did, and it was remarkably easy. Went at 1, home by 1:30, and that was including dropping off my fiance down the road at the place she was to vote at.

I'm not that stupid.

Okay, so this will be the second political post, and frankly I feel they're far too close together, but this annoyed me too.



This ad is blatantly dishonest to anyone who has done even a tiny bit of research into what's being proposed.

The FairTax, which is what Saxby Chambliss supports, would not be a 23% tax on top of the current income taxes.

Quick few links to show just how dishonest this ad is:

FairTax FAQ.
Don't want something direct from their website? Fine.
Op-Ed done by economist Laurence Kotlikoff (PDF File.)
And here are two more studies by the same economist.
Here's one and another that shows the FairTax is in fact progressive.

It isn't about who this ad is for, if it were an ad slamming some Democrat it would piss me off equally. While idiocy annoys me, dishonesty flat out infuriates me. Please, do not insult my intelligence by putting forth obvious crap in an attempt to gain my vote, regardless of which side you're on.

I'm going to go sit in my cardboard box to calm down.

This Election Is Horrible

Regardless of who wins this stupid election, I'll be more than glad it's over.

It feels that every day that passes someone else claims that not bowing down and praising Barack Obama makes you some cross burning, hood wearing scumbag vermin who wakes up with the sole intent of oppressing black people.

On 'net forums, you'll find posts that say, (I'm paraphrasing so you can't google who said it) "Obama isn't just crushing McCain because he's black." Or, "Over half of the Americans are racists." (Those were both from Americans, mind you.)

Nope, you couldn't possibly disagree with Obama's policies, or think that he's too inexperienced, (And before you even go there, so is Sarah Palin.)

You couldn't possibly think that his VP pick shows poor judgment, when he tosses out gems like this class warfare supporting quote:

IFILL: OK, our time is up here. We've got to move to the next question. Sen. Biden, we want to talk about taxes, let's talk about taxes. You proposed raising taxes on people who earn over $250,000 a year. The question for you is, why is that not class warfare and the same question for you, Gov. Palin, is you have proposed a tax employer health benefits which some studies say would actually throw five million more people onto the roles of the uninsured. I want to know why that isn't taking things out on the poor, starting with you, Sen. Biden.

BIDEN: Well Gwen, where I come from, it's called fairness, just simple fairness. The middle class is struggling. The middle class under John McCain's tax proposal, 100 million families, middle class families, households to be precise, they got not a single change, they got not a single break in taxes. No one making less than $250,000 under Barack Obama's plan will see one single penny of their tax raised whether it's their capital gains tax, their income tax, investment tax, any tax. And 95 percent of the people in the United States of America making less than $150,000 will get a tax break.

Now, that seems to me to be simple fairness. The economic engine of America is middle class. It's the people listening to this broadcast. When you do well, America does well. Even the wealthy do well. This is not punitive. John wants to add $300 million, billion in new tax cuts per year for corporate America and the very wealthy while giving virtually nothing to the middle class. We have a different value set. The middle class is the economic engine. It's fair. They deserve the tax breaks, not the super wealthy who are doing pretty well. They don't need any more tax breaks. And by the way, they'll pay no more than they did under Ronald Reagan.

You couldn't possibly think Obama's idea to cut taxes on 95% of American's is stupid. (Because it's impossible)

You couldn't possibly be against his dislike of the second amendment.

Nope! You're just a klansman who hates Obama because he's black.

Well, I'd like to respectfully disagree. I'm not in the Klan, I don't actually hate the man, just his policies. I don't support John McCain either, for that matter.

I'm not thrilled about the idea of socialized medicine. No doubt healthcare needs some work, but it's by no means completely broken.

I'm not in love with taxing "rich" people just because they're rich. Silly me for thinking taxes were about funding the government.

What I am, however, is a 22 year old man sick of being told he's either a) a closet racist, or b) an idiot for not lining up to support Barack Obama.