Although I do feel obligated to consider each presidential candidate's stance on the whole gamut of issues... This financial crisis and bailout is taking a full frontal assault of people's senses - the media seems to be screaming at us that this issue is paramount above all others! And granted, it is the biggest financial crisis in the US since the Great Depression but there are other issues to focus on before November 4th.
So, being inspired by watching 11th hour over the weekend, alongside spending some time in the countryside of New York State watching the rivers run and the leaves change colors - my focus shifted to the reality that what we call "the environment" is also the reality of humankind. Even if we destroy the environment, it will regenerate, but when we destroy humankind we're gone, we're out of here and the difference between Wall Street and Main Street will be which species of ferns decide to emerge from between the cracks.
So examining the Candidate's stance on Environmental issues is critical. There are a few good web resources for this purpose. Grist.org is one I recommend, where you will find (not surprisingly) that Obama's are more specific and ambitious than McCain's.
While it is practically impossible to ignore or deny these issues any longer, due to the predominant paradigm of the US' "addiction to foreign oil",. the fact that McCain does support a cap and trade system reveals a shift from the previous decade in the Republican parties' willingness to be accountable for America's consumption and carbon emissions.
I think one of the things that has impressed me the most throughout the months of campaigning in this election has been how the two presidential candidates have both integrated new medias into their campaigns. I can receive up-dates from the candidates via Facebook and Twitter. I can watch their speeches at their respective conventions via YouTube and hear their thoughts via their blogs. All of this is making it easier for American voters to actually know who their candidates are and catch up with what their latest news is. The US presidential race can be truly classified as Election 2.0.
The most recent addition to the US Election 2.0 is the Vote for Change website. I stumbled across this the other day when I was researching how to become a registered voter in my own country- not an easy task Elections Canada! The Vote for Change website has an extraordinarily simple goal- they want to make voting quick and easy. I can find my polling station, I can register to vote, and I can also request to vote absentee. Wow. The best thing about it is that it looks really easy to use and will guide me through the various steps that I need to find the answers to. Why is this service not available in Canada?
The Vote for Change is paid for by the Obama for America team, but I actually get the sense that they are interested in helping all voters get to the polls- not just the ones that are surely voting for Obama. In 2004, although voter turnout was high, 78 million eligible voters did not get to the polls. Maybe by making it easier for people to understand how to vote the turnout will be higher in 2008.
Definitely check this website out if you are American and are an eligible voter! www.voteforchange.com
I believe that our past generation has done much for society. But, society is changing, and their failed tired tactics of governance and policy have assisted us to this point. Our once extremely powerful financial giants are crashing and the stock market is slipping into a deep, deep hole. Financial confidence is down not just in the U.S.A , but across the planet. I truly believe it will return, but not for QUITE a while. Whether you blame risky home lenders, mortgage reciepients in over thier heads , or not enough federal intervention, our country is losing its grip on the world market, and its citizens are paying the price.
The republican party has come to the road of its doomsday, and democrats ,including myself, are in shock and awe that these people would even take a risk on John McCain . Between the homophobic and anti abortion evangelical -protestants, whose really going to be running the "free-ist" country on Earth? Sarah Palin is an example of the modern "anti-woman" woman whose pure influence is their religion and bush loving husbands. I'm a catholic, I love Jesus as much as the next person, but I also know that God preached love, and hope, and prosperity. Why are'nt his proud little children doing the same.
Vote Barack Obama 2008
unless you're : patriotic
give me a break.
The republican scare tactics are tired and are up against a force 10x more powerful... Hope.
Straights, gay, catholic, Jewish, republican, democrat, man, woman, black white.
Lets' change the course of history.. Elect Barack Obama 08'.
please respond, I'm eager to read what you have to say:)
