// January 6th, 2008 // Comments Off // Uncategorized
Not sure of how to really breach this ‘in the now’ subject, with the Iowa Caucus just finishing up and the New Hampshire Caucus happening in a few short days, I am deciding to just let it Flow…so here goes…
I am extremely scared/hopeful about our future as a country!
Things dealing with many domestic issues like jobs, health care, education, and immigrant legalisation reform directly affect me in some way:
(Jobs) – I am currently unemployed and trying really hard to get a job…so being extremely poor at the moment is having me reflect a lot upon issues related to jobs and the economy.
(Health Care) – I recently underwent surgery…and face the issue of actually having any follow-up work done or needed….I had coverage previously with my former employer, but now…I am being very careful about my well-being because I couldn’t afford to seek medical help if I needed it. Also, my mother has Paranoid Schizophrenia, which is regulated with medication, but she has limited psychiatric resources do to the beaurocracy that is our government, making her unable to be seen by a doctor for over a year, while others who may not need medical treatment more urgently get care almost immediately.
(Education) – Although I currently have my BS degree and am paying my college student loans, the prospect of grad school is very attractive to me. I also used to teach K-12 from many different schools (I’ve taught over 9,000 students from about 300 schools across NC and elsewhere) so my perspective is deep when talking to the respective schools’ teachers about their programs or lack thereof.
(Immigrant Issues) – More from a humanitarian perspective, I am very curious on how immigrants connect with others and find the resources they need to flourish in our country.
Foreign Policy – Generally I have a gutteral reaction to how Bush is unilaterally fighting these wars he is waging all over the world….saying that, I also have very deep emotional connections to what is happening. I grew up in a military family with my father serving in the Marine Corps, so I’ve lived in/near military bases my entire life. During my upbringing, my father served in Desert Shield/Storm….and living with a schizophrenic mother with two younger siblings brought many traumatic times…not going to elaborate, but it wasn’t the easiest of times. Further, since growing up in/near military bases, naturally many of my friends are from military families who also, then, go on to join the military. Many of them, I see, serve and do okay I suppose, but when they get back from their service…..they can’t find suitable work…they become disabled and don’t get proper care, so on and so forth. There is a certain patriotism involved with them serving, but mostly and I think more weighing on their decision to serve is the prospect of a stable life and regular income, not to live in another country being in danger.
I could go on…and maybe I will later about what I feel about this war in Iraq, but this brings me back to our leading Democratic Candidates. Here I am only talking about the Dems because, well, I am a democrat, but also I am not very interested making this post longer than a small book.
Before I begin, a good resource to find out good information on all public officials is at the VOTE SMART Project website, so check it out.
Also-Voting Records of top 3 Democratic Candidates:
(Alphabetically)
Hilary Clinton
John Edwards
Barack Obama
Since I’ve been unemployed, I have spent a considerable amount of time researching the leading candidates, trying to figure out which one seems to line up best with what I belive and hope. I am not an expert, pundit, but a person who cares deeply about things that affect me and ones I love.
In brief, there are a few things I really like about all three leading candidates:
Hilary Clinton – I like that she is leading the way for women in the US for being a pioneer as far as empowering women to become President. The fact that she has consistently stood up for children is also great since I love children.
John Edwards – I like that he has clearly define policy objectives that are easy to understand. I lean toward his campaign platform. I like his personal journey.
Barack Obama – I love his ability to speak; he sounds so much like an inspirational leader. I like his level logic and clear communication.
Trying to be brief, here’s what I do not like:
Hilary Clinton – She always seems disingenuous and scripted, hardly showing emotion in her public speeches. I don’t like her corporate connections. I don’t really trust her and there seems to be many instances of ‘dirty pool’…like one of her senior campaign staffers connecting Obama with ‘muslim’ and questioning his schooling…Why is being a muslim bad? He is not muslim anyway….but that branding of something adhered to Bush’s already well-known ‘war on terror’ is transitive to muslim and being ‘evil’. Nope, don’t trust her.
John Edwards – I don’t like how his message sometimes feels like he hates companies and all lobbyists…I understand what he means, which is that there are a few (companies) that have a disproportionate amount of influence on many, but I don’t know if hey conveys that well sometimes. I also don’t like his former stances on issues (like his authorization to go to war)….but upon researching, I feel like he grows as he learns more, unlike some others.
Barack Obama – His platitudes are wearing thin on me insofar as not seeing the substance supporting what his keywords (hope, change) seem to articulate. I am unsteady with his sudden switch to ban corporate and pac money for his campaign (his Illinois state campaign accepted those funds). That is not to say I know if Edwards has ever accepted monies similiar previous to this 2008 campaign.
I will try to write more, but for now I feel like I would make this post too long!
But I found this letter that Michael Moore wrote….and I think it expresses things similar to my own…
Michael Moore’s letter <== READ THE FULL LETTER!
Two months ago, Rolling Stone magazine asked me to do a cover story where I would ask the hard questions that no one was asking in one-on-one interviews with Senators Clinton, Obama and Edwards. “The Top Democrats Face Off with Michael Moore.” The deal was that all three candidates had to agree to let me interview them or there was no story. Obama and Edwards agreed. Mrs. Clinton said no, and the cover story was thus killed.
One more thing….VOTING and being involved in this election, I feel, is one of the most important things to do this year for yourself, your future, and your legacy….!!! I know it’s cliche’, but it WILL make a difference and WILL determine the course of our lives. For those that say, well…they are all ‘corrupt’…I am sure to some extent, there are inadequacies, but you need to inform yourself and find the best fit for you!!!!!!
