Yesterday, I attended a lunch for "Women Employed," a philanthropy dedicated to equal working rights for low-income women. The key note speaker was John Edwards. As I read my bulletin over lunch, preparing for the Senator’s arrival, I found myself thinking, "Here we go."
I LOVE election year. I love a good issue or debate. I love trying to one-up someone with my political wit. This year, however, I am excited for change. It is not that I think President Bush is a bad person. I think he is a bad president. In fact, I think he is an incompetent president. I think he has become so narrowly focused on the war that he has left the rest of the country and its issues behind.
Now, I know this is the point when many of you scurry away, but I promise, my Bush rant is complete.
I knew (and still know) very little about Sen. John Edwards. I knew that I will agree with him on some things. I knew that I feel compassion about his wife's illness (and I worry it will overshadow the real issues of his campaign). And, I knew that he's not too hard on the eyes. What I didn't know, was that I would leave my "working" lunch with a nagging feeling that just would not go away. So, here we go...
Poverty is an issue that is near and dear to the Senator's heart (a.k.a. platform). He spent the majority of his speech outlining ways that we can reduce poverty in
Now, I know it is not a shocker to anyone that I agree with these issues, as I am blue, blue, blue. I am from a small town were people live from pay check to pay check. My mother was the recipient of years of public aid - without which she would not have lived as long or died as well.
But, I also believe in responsibility. What is the old adage? "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps." A Rush Hannity favorite. (They're the same person, right?) The problem is, you have to learn responsibility - from parents, from teachers, from society, from higher education. And, all of these things are failing because all of them require someone to be responsible in the first place.
So you decide - did we fry the chicken or scramble the egg?!
In conclusion, (my 4th grade English teacher would be proud) I don't know who I will vote for. I like a lot of people. I like what a lot of people have to say. Including myself. And, with that, I hope you enjoyed this little soap box moment.
What do you think is the greatest "political" issue today?
Who do you like and why?
What issue do you care most about?
2 comments:
sounds like you've been snared in the political web in which i, too, am entrapped. stuck somewhere between right and left, barack and mitt.
i want help for everyone, but i also believe in self reliance. i want freedom for everyone, but i also believe in morality. so ... pretty much you shouldn't vote for me because i'm all sorts of confused.
but i'll say mitt for now. 'cause he can tell a good joke, like ...
" Many people think Mormons are square, but Harry Reid and Orrin Hatch are Mormons and I recently joined them for a night on the town. I'd love to talk about it, but 'what happens in Disneyland, stays in Disneyland.'"
I just came across your blog and thought this post worthy of more commentary.
I think the biggest political issue today, when it all comes down to it, is responsibility. Our responsibility as a country to take care of our own citizens, our responsiblity as a country to be a productive member of the global community, and the responsibility of our President to make informed decisions. Part of the problem is the continual shirking of responsibility by a lot of the big decisions makers in the current administration. They refuse to be accountable for the decisions they've made, and the situations they've ignored. I think that perhaps if some politicians practiced the accountability that they preach then they could be setting a better example for all Americans.
I don't feel like there has to be such a big gap between progressives and the "moralists". Very right wing conservatives like to describe "liberals" as being without morals, when in fact it's just a different view of what is moral. I hope that more people who base their political opinions on their moral views will realize that it is a very moral thing to want to raise up the lowest in the community, to take care of the sick, to share the wealth, and to be good stewards of the land. That working together to have a fair society isn't a bad thing. And that everyone is entitled to live by their own morals, whether they are the same as the ones you hold or not.
I haven't made any decision as to who I'll be voting for. I do have a soft spot for John Edwards, perhaps he's just charmed me. I like Hillary Clinton, but I feel she might be too controversial for people (not me personally though), and while I do really like Obama, I feel that it's too soon for him to be running. I think he should have gone at least one more term in the Senate. In previous years I had great respect for John McCain, but that has dwindled over time. Sorry this was so long. :) I'm glad I found your blog.
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