Please U.S. news media, stop reporting off your own insolence. Now that that memo is out of the way... This is a break from my normal Asia blog, hopefully one of the few.
Every election we hear of a tide of voter frustration, new ideas, complaints, and people who say 'career politician' and 'look at what I've done for you in office.' Rarely though does the news media report though on candidates who are so 'anti-career politician', then when they run for re-election they completely abandon that slogan/ideology/rhetoric and say the person who is running on the same campaign that they did previously is just full of B.S. and doesn't know what they are talking about...
I dread this election. Mostly because I feel that the last 2 years haven't made the Democratic agenda properly come into full bloom. Plus John Boehner I feel is proof that the Devil exists (we already know he does, Karl Rove, but I'm trying to prove a point). Don't get me wrong, I actually disagree with lots of what Obama has been doing, and love him at the same time, but he ran on a campaign vs. John McCain, and won, and has spent almost the entirety of his time in office dealing with the Economy. People often judge Presidents by their actions and what went on globally during their terms. Hence why Clinton will be remembered in my opinion as a great president, he dealt with a different, safer world with less issues then we see today. I won't go into the Bush 8-yr legacy, but if anyone knows my stance on economic policy and war relations, that should be enough... My greatest fear though for the Democratic party though is something not often said, noticed, or even examined. My fear...things get better and the other party takes credit for it...
Don't get me wrong, people are hurting and I want a swift recovery. But as I write this in a foreign country the night before the 2010 US Elections, the atmosphere of America will be altered greatly. Unless the House AND Senate shift parties completely, then only 'SOME' harm will be done. Looking back at the last 2yrs, the entire Republican party in unison in the House and Senate unanimously voted down every priority issue of Obama's [Actually look at thh Health Care Bill, it mirrors the 1993 Republican proposal, but they all voted completely against it]. We will see much Gridlock (much as the 41 proved greater then 59...) and this will then be blamed on Obama as not being Bi-partisan enough, and 'hes destroying America, so vote the other party.' My concern really is though, especially if both shift in favor of Republicans, is what this will do to Obamas plans. Obviously he'll have to dampen his agenda, but as the Economy slowly expands, the Republican tax agenda might just be reported as the 'fix-all' solution to something which was already within grasp. I'm essentially stating that they'll say their plans are to be credited, and the news media will go-with-the-flow and this will set the party back for elections to come.
The issue which Dems have failed to report, Repubs wont state, and the media is unsure what to do with, is simple: Numbers scare people. People don't want to deal with numbers, so economics scares them and they want 'professionals' to deal with it; hence why its fun to hate on the other party or that other guy who is Pro/Anti taxation/Spending/petting cats/dogs/infrastructure. My greatest quarrel is the lack of understanding towards DEMAND and SUPPLY side theory. People assume infinite demand in EVERY Example reported in the news/reports. This is purely put: Moronic. Yes, people have infinite demand, but in no way do we have infinite ability to attain it. This is why the idea that cutting taxes across the board, especially in the circumstance we are in right now will actually be long-term detrimental. Encouraging tax cuts is supposed to spur industry because theres more money in the hands of the consumer, there's 0 arguing against this. However, people still are very reluctant to spend right now. As seen in the PRE-BUSH (yes, I am giving Bush credit), outsourcing and globalization have proved that even with higher and lower taxes, America's 'service economy' doesn't need as many jobs as it used to because of technology. In realisism, we all see this. For example: do we really need 30 people on the sales floor of Home Depot and every line with a cashier, or why is it that for a building thats 30,000sq Ft why is there only 1 line open and one person to help you during peak hours? If we cut taxes, this makes the national Deficit rise quicker, if we tax then growth is more limited. We saw before Obama the rise-and-fall of the Economy, particularly in 2005-2006 the growth the US economy had, and the shortfalls of deregulation and the housing market collapse of 2008. Cutting taxes means less services (and as the debt rises, we get less services for our money), and in a time when people are barely making it, should we be extravagant and provide more, or should we be stringent and let those who overextended pay the price; especially to those who are already barely making it? I understand the Tea Party anger. Many/most lost their jobs, or are helping pay for those who couldn't live within their means [mind you though, such a large decrease in Employment cannot be blamed on them]. Since Capitalism is founded on the idea of Personal, Private Property, helping others when you wouldn't expect them to help you seems like a waste of money. This however shows the disconnect we have with people in America and the effects of rising Class-differences.
In no way is this a desperate plea, but a realization; at least on my behalf. We saw what the Republicans did for 8yrs to us, screwing us over, let the Dems screw us over for at least 4yrs... c'mon, its only fair.
This is why this election I PROUDLY voted completly Democrat for every position, last election it was a 60D/30R/10I mix roughly, with only 1 regret (part of the 30...).
As I end this, I ask this. Do we vote for the person, or the party affiliation? This time, I was fortunate because in each instance I feel that I agree with not only everything they say, but who they are as a person. Last election, I voted for someone 'across the isle' whom I though was a more sensible person and represented the County better. Mind you, I still disagreed with many of his stances; particularly how he failed to understand the difference between separation of Church and State. After seeing what he did in his 2yrs; trying to repeal the Oregon Healthy Kids Act and wasting money on a committee for the 'Bypass' which he promptly voted down, I agree with the statement 'Vote the bum out.' Mind you, he voted along his party lines, and I knew this when I voted for him.
The idea though that American voting has become so extreme, that truly bipartisanship only occurs in the face of travesty. Currently, haters gonna hate, cause haten's cool and their not cool...
I'm proud to be an American (at times), luckily I speak enough of other languages and look different enough in Hong Kong to not instantly be recognized (sometimes...). I hope for the best, but right now, that hope is all I can hope for. Then again, can I dream of a 2012 Jon Stewart/Paul Krugman ticket?
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