We Don’t Need Politics As Usual
I wrote yesterday that I was deeply troubled by several blog entries I’d read. These blog entries, by people who happen to oppose Barack Obama for president (although we do have other things in common), contain a number of mistakes and misconceptions about Obama’s tax policy. The authors are spreading a fear that Obama will take people’s hard-earned money and give it to other people.
My first response was to want to point out the misconceptions and errors, and argue the facts.
I don’t think that will do any good. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t convince the authors to believe me. If you are interested in knowing the truth about Obama’s tax policy, here are some links. Check them out for yourself and make up your own mind.
- http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/15/smallbusiness/small_biz_taxes_factcheck.smb/index.htm
- http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_debate_no_3.html
- http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/23780.html
- http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Factsheet_Tax_Plan_FINAL.pdf
There’s another reason why I’m choosing not to argue right now.
We need to get out of politics as usual. We need to “shake up Washington” (McCain). We need “change we can believe in” (Obama). That doesn’t mean we need to replace Republicans with Democrats or vice versa. It means we need to get away from the politics of fear, and away from the oppositional model of politics. As long as we’re pitted against each other, we’re going to have a hard time working together for the good of all.
Amen! We need more than politics as usual. I am frustrated by the political pandering that is going on at this stage in the election. I am continuing my tradition of voting for third party candidates. This year it is Bob Barr. I am of the opinion that Wall Street should hang for what happened, not get bailed out and Barr is the only one who seems to agree with me. While I think some of his policies are a bit extreme, I am a big fan of smaller government. I am weird though because I am also a fan of universal health care, but I have also written in other places why I think it might be better just to get rid of the department of education:
http://historyandtechnology136.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/civil-servants-and-education/
See, I knew you could do it!
I agree with you, K.
I also believe neither big candidate is going to change. That would mean a loss of big money in Congress. Big money is what drives everything. Like Danny, I’m voting third party, although I’m torn between Barr, Baldwin and Nader.
Well put. Here Here! I like the new theme!
For me, the lessons we as a collective, as nation need to learn are the same lessons my oldest is learning this year in kindergarten.
1.Listen when others are speaking.
2.Take turns
3. Don’t call people names
4.Use your nice words to work it out, because anything else is going to get you sent to the principal’s office.
Pretty basic, but so often ignored these days. I’m an Obama supporter too. Was even before the last debate, though something he said then really struck me. “We can disagree without being disagreeable.” Hardly original — I used to say it all the time on a blog site I moderated, though few listened for any length of time — but worth repeating.
We as a nation are in the weeds at the moment, and, you’re right, the oppositional model of politics isn’t going to pull us out. I’m hoping we can turn that around, but I fear the worst in the aftermath of the nastiness of this election.