This is not a political blog, however with a pretty historic election coming up, I wanted to write up my opinion at least somewhere. I’ve been a champ (for the most part) of keeping politics off of my Twitter profile. So, at least I can vent on my own blog at least once. Here I go…
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I will be voting for John McCain for President.
It isn’t because he’s my favorite guy. He isn’t. But, it is because Barack Obama scares me.
Obama is clearly a nice guy. I really do like the man. I wish he weren’t so extremely liberal in his views on government because then I probably would vote for the guy.
Politically, I am fairly liberal when it comes to social issues. No, put more accurately, I am pretty libertarian when it comes to social issues. I say get the government off your back and let people figure it out for themselves. I see it as a testament to the fact that government is too large that we even have to worry about a politician’s views on social issues.
When it comes to fiscal issues, I am a true conservative. I believe in small government. I believe in a government that ensures the right to pursue happiness, but doesn’t guarantee it. I am a believer in personal responsibility.
Wealth Redistribution
Both of these candidates are pretty big-government guys. But, it is clear to me that Obama is the worse of the two. Obama has an agenda that will result in huge expansions of government if he has his way. I think this whole “Joe the Plumber” issue does go right to the heart of Obama’s wealth redistribution mentality. Look, I understand that our progressive tax system is inherently wealth redistribution as it is right now. I know that. But, Obama is going to make it even more pronounced. And he even wants to now give tax rebates to people who never pay taxes in the first place.
The top 10% of income earners in this country pay well over 70% of the total tax load. This wealthiest 2% thing people talk about – it is pure political spin. If you do any across the board tax cut, you’re going to benefit the richest Americans simply because they pay most of the nation’s bills! So, here comes Obama – he wants to charge MORE to those people, and then give money TO the people who either pay hardly anything as it is, or worse, pay NO TAXES. That’s pandering. That’s redistributing the wealth.
Lastly, let’s look at facts. It is primarily the top earners in this country who employ people. If you make the load too high on these people, they are going to lay off workers in order to make up costs. People like Obama don’t seem to understand this fact. This IS a trickle-down economy! I know that doesn’t sound very politically correct, but it is true. Every job I ever had (and, thank God, it wasn’t many), I was working for somebody with more money than I had.
Expanding Government Now is The Worse Thing You Could Do
This economy is under serious strain. As it is, recession looms. If you expand the size of government and, therefore, increase taxes and increase debt – it will KILL this economy and send it into a potential depression.
Especially if you target your tax increases on the people who create the jobs in this economy. That kind of tactic looks like it would almost be designed by somebody who wanted to cause a depression.
Look, if my taxes go up, I have to cut back. I would have to lay off Rich, for example. That would suck. And do you think, for a second, I’m the only guy in that position? And I’m not even in the band of people Obama would call rich! (yet)
Personal Ties
OK, it is clear that the personal ties of Obama are being brought up as political smears. But, does that mean it doesn’t matter? No, it doesn’t. They may be smear attempts, but they are true.
Obama is a likable man, but he has surrounded himself with a lot of people who aren’t. And when you see that kind of pattern, it makes you wonder if what you’re seeing in Obama is real, or just a contrived marketing image designed to win the election. People align themselves with people generally like them. When we see Ayers, Acorn and the like – and all the criss-crossing connections with these people and Obama – it should be very concerning.
A Word on Change
This whole “change” thing is one of the biggest strokes of marketing genius I’ve witnessed in a long time. It is simple and it echos a large national mood.
I want change, too. I’m frickin’ tired of President Bush. He has done a LOT of things I disagree with and, generally, I don’t believe he’s leaving this country better off than when he got into office. Good, adios to the guy. I want change, too.
And Obama is certainly going to be a change. But, I fear that people want change just for change’s sake, and are completely ignorant at the kind of change they’re electing here. Look, if I’m beating you over the head with a frying pan, stopping that and shooting you with a Glock 45 is going to be change, too. But, you probably don’t want it.
Which leads me to….
Marketing
As a guy who is interested in internet marketing, I am intrigued by the Obama campaign. They’ve been nothing short of genius. But, as any marketer will tell you, the idea is to create an image that people identify with. They’ve done that with Obama. He is a mirage. What you see is not really what you’re going to get.
Combined with that, we have a young generation who is mostly clueless about history. They are extremely susceptible to marketing, even while proclaiming they’re not. People who know little about history, as a generation, are looking to repeat it by electing Obama.
While other countries are trying to march away from socialism, this country is going right into it. And like flies, people are being led to the light. What happens when they get to that light is likely going to zap them pretty hard.
Wrap Up
As I said, I’m not a big fan of McCain. However, he is a man who has lived with honor his entire life. Agree with him or not, McCain is not a marketing image. He is what he is and I believe he’s an honorable man. I also think that his policies, while not 100% up my alley, will handle things far better than those of a man who is clearly extremely liberal and has, quite frankly, the shortest resume of any person ever nominated by a major political party for this office.
Lastly, the Democrats may even pick up seats in Congress (the same Congress with a 9% approval rating). The idea of the Democrats holding both houses of Congress – and an extremely liberal and partisan president – that should scare the crap out of anybody. It wasn’t good when the GOP had it – why would it be good when the left has it. Checks and balances are a good thing.
Having a Democrat in office isn’t a bad thing. But, give me a moderate. Bill Clinton was pretty moderate, as an example. I’d rather have him back than Obama. Obama is FAR to the left, and that is something that, quite frankly, I don’t think this country deserves nor will do well with.
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OK, I got it out of my system. And if you disagree with me, I respect you anyway.
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