Election's '08, Holding My Breath

Tuesday is a very important day. It will decide a great deal about our nation's future, especially in terms of the years of my life when this sort of stuff matters.

That is, as a child I was relatively oblivious to politics, financial market upsets, and while I understood what war was, it didn't effect me personally. Now, as a soon-to-be 25-year-old adult, all of this is very relevant in my life. If Obama wins, I may have health insurance again. If McCain wins, well it's 4 more years of Bush. I don't mind McCain, it's Palin I'm afraid of.

I believe in the constitution, and strongly believe in social and economic freedom that, for the most part, goes unregulated by government. Because government is usually wrong. But when it comes down to things that make the people of our country better - healthier, smarter, and prepared for the competition in the international marketplace, the government needs to help out. Look at China - its people may not be doing all that well, but economically they're thriving. America is no longer the big shot nation. We're one of many. And before we fight for democracy, we need to prove why it is so great. We take care of our people. That means providing quality education, health coverage, and mental healthcare. The school system should have a class in finance, explaining why sub prime mortgages don't work. We can't bail out banks, because that defeats the purpose of capitalism. This isn't Mario. You can't just be like, oops, do over. (Though, apparently, you can.)

It never ceases to amuse and confuse me that those who believe strongest in liberty and freedom from centralized government are the same exact people who speak out against gay marriage. In California, there's Prop 8, which will add an amendement to the state constitution saying that marriage has to be between a man and a woman. Now, regardless on your opinion on gay people, isn't that kind of ridiculous? After all, if we're fighting for our freedom - freedom to spend as we please, teach our children what we believe, do what we think is right, then shouldn't everyone have those freedoms? The biggest hypocrisy is fighting for freedom, as long as people agree with your beliefs.

Sorry to go a little off topic here, but this issue really irks me. All the people who are so set on defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Marriage, in itself, is a religious concept. I personally believe that the government should remove itself from the marriage process, and that everyone who wishes to be married can sign up, legally, for a civil partnership, and then let people define marriage as they please. I went to a wedding this last weekend, and while it was lovely, all the traditions and everything were a religious ceremony - that's what marriage is. Two people can love each other and be together forever without being "married," the only difference then is the lack of rights. The lack of freedom to have these rights.

The last thing I have to say about this is how if every marriage between a man and woman were perfect, then maybe it would make sense to say that marriage is this special thing that must be preserved. But look at the marriages in our country. Many end in divorce. Many that don't remain abusive. My good friend just eloped so she could have her fiance's health benefits. This is reality. And letting two people who love each other get married, whether they have different genitals or not, well, that really shouldn't matter. Marriage is about a commitment to someone you love, to share your life together, to be there for each other in sickness and in health. It's not restricted to a man-woman relationship. That's all I'll say about that for today.

I'm feeling good about Obama's standing in the polls, but still worried that McCain will pull ahead. I remember election day 2004, when the results were coming in and it was clear that Bush was going to win. Well, it was never really clear, except I knew it because he did a great job of scaring people into thinking if anyone else won the terrorists would infiltrate our country. Fear is a great campaign to run on. McCain is trying it too, but people are maybe a little smarter now that they've seen what Bush has done.

Obama isn't perfect. But he understands this country. He understands what we need. He may be liberal, he may believe in equality for all, and that may scare a lot of people in this country who, on the extreme, think that America needs to be white in order to still be America. I'm worried FOR Obama, it's obvious that him being African American makes him the target of tons of assassination attempts. He is the next JFK, he inspires hope, and scares the shit out of people who don't want things to change.

But that's really it, why Obama still may not win. The fear, the fear of a president who isn't white, and even more so, the fear of a president who's middle name is Hussein. My mom is voting for McCain because she thinks Obama will not side with Israel. People think he's too soft. He'll let the terrorists walk all over him.

You know what Obama is? He's human. He's a real person. He's smart. He's really smart. And that's what we need as our president. Not someone like this...


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