An acquaintance of mine who sits, shall we say, off to the right of center in the political spectrum, forwarded to me an opinion article from a paper whose editorial page has been called (by Bill Clinton) “more right wing and irrational than most of the commentators on Fox News.” Of course, the email couched the article as if it were a news report which, even from this particular paper, would have been worthwhile and generally, reliable and accurate.

However, the editorial page is the opposite of reliable reporting. Quality news reporting consists of the gathering, objective analysis, and reporting of facts.  When composing an editorial article, one begins with a thesis then selects facts, generates hyperbole, disseminates misnomers and yes, even lies, to support the thesis. The disregard of facts is also a popular tool. Both wings of the spectrum do this and it should not be a shock to anyone.^*

So what, you ask, does this nonsense have to do with “Why I’m Voting For Obama”?

The article in question attempted to scare the reader with promises of higher taxes under the plan laid out by the Obama campaign. I’m no numbers wiz but I have looked at the plans from both camps and I don’t see how I will see significant changes to my personal tax liability under either scenario. Frankly, my decision has little, if anything, to do with tax plans. 

My vote is based on a belief that change must be more than a minor course correction. Our current POTUS has done more to shame the people of these United States than any holder of the office since Richard Nixon. He has driven us to wars for the sake of commodities rather than security. In doing so he has neglected the true front in the War On Terror: our national integrity, global standing, and economic strength. These are the things that were attacked on that terrible day in 2001. These are the foundations that our attackers sought to shake as they struck at the symbols of our economic and military might.  

G. W. Bush, with the support of John McCain took their eyes off the ball, widened the so-called “War on Terror” into an imperialistic power-grab for a handhold in a region that does not want our presence. In doing so, we fomented and fueled the ranks of the terrorists and began to drive the well-being of our own nation into the ground. 

John McCain believes that this was the right thing to do.

I believe that he is wrong. I believe that his hindsight being limited only to suggest that we should have done things differently rather than not-at-all shows a dangeous stubborness akin to that of the current POTUS.

I believe that Barack Obama is a man who would seek not to strike first; not to endanger American lives unless they are already in peril. I believe that Barack Obama wants to bring our soldiers out of Iraq as quickly and safely as possible. 

On other fronts, I feel that Obama’s intent to invest in the lives of Americans meets with my beliefs (or as closely as any major candidate will get.) National Health Care is not a crazy notion. We could have funded it a number of times over with the money that we are throwing away in Iraq. In my opinion, every human on the planet deserves health care. It should never be a matter of finance. It’s a matter of common sense. The state of the U.S. health care system is presently a point upon which we should be ashamed. Sure, you may be doing just fine. But everybody deserves to be doing fine; regardless of their age, wealth, or employment status. And I’ll also add, a $5000 Tax credit will not go very far when the projected per-person cost of health insurance for 2009 is projected to be in excess of $12,000. That’s math I can understand.

Had I the time or inclination, I could probably go on like this all day but I do have lunch and a job to think about. So, I’ll leave you with the following message:

Vote Obama.

^*This blog post is, of course, my opinion, fueled by facts, with as little lying as possible.