DNC
Preface: Although I'm reveling in the Democratic spirit this week, I will reserve final judgement until I give the Republicans a fair chance. But I've been watching too much politics in the past week or two, chiefly the past few days, to not collect my thoughts. Thank you to Abhi for getting my political engine revved up like it hasn't been since the 10th grade where many of you may have known me as a conservative or libertarian. I am a registered Independent (or does that make me not registered really? party-wise). So, for the past few years I've looked down on Bush-bashers as rash people, I gave him some credit, but as you'll see I have finally decided...
...that enough is enough. As it stands I'm voting for Kerry. Two reasons and sadly they're problems with Bush & co. - but I really don't expect these to change while other matters shift and Kerry's platform is revealed.
1. George, you fucked up the budget, I don't like owing so much money, these foreign countries are quite literally going to own us, get the hell out and don't call yourself a conservative
2. George, your buddy John Ashcroft fucked up my civil rights, I used to think Republicans stood for freedom
On top of that I've come to understand, after so many years, the nature of the truly well-meaning Democrat. The Kerry-Edwards team have me pretty convinced they are of this type. If they make good on their intentions I'm confident, at least on most issues, they will make the world a better place. At the same time, I mistrust Bush's motives for the way he's handled most issues. I used to be one who admired, even subscribed to the conservative spirit - that the best way is to make your own way. Unfortunately I have always held a conflicting belief in absolute fairness and I understand the world a little more... inheritng status from one's family is the antithesis of equality and I can no longer stand for it. While I still have faith in many Republicans' true honest spirit, including that of my own grandmother here in liberal Maryland, I cannot allow the fruitless and insensitive reign of Bush to continue.
John Edwards went on the podium today. His theme: "Hope is on the way". Wait, what? Shouldn't hope be here already? Whatever, it was good. He made the case for general liberal values and for Kerry's values in particular. I was surprised by his accent but it should appeal to many of them red states I hope. Really I must be biased by this week because I don't see this being a close race. Anyway, Edwards is cool, I did enjoy his speech. Kerry will be more crucial tomorrow night.
One note that concerns me is "Fair trade" which is a misnomer if I ever heard one. A speaker tonight assured the Democrats that jobs would come back as we "enforce the rules of fair trade". Now some incentives I can stand by, like that for American-made hybrid cars... as long as those really are better in MPG (heh or Kilos per Liter), over which there is some controversy. But the economic concept of fair trade is this: anybody anywhere can trade with whomever they want at whatever price they agree on. That is fairness, and that is economic efficiency on the global scale. When we erect barriers we don't help our reputation in the world. When we bar trade too weakly and lose jobs it says our economy needs restructuring, not more barriers. But no one wants to say that to people who have spent their lives in one career because it means they will have to be completely retrained to produce something our nation has a comparative advantage in (and I'm not precisely sure what that is). Anyway, this idea of getting jobs back by ending "outsourcing" simply makes me uneasy.
Going all over the place here... Al Sharpton! Made a nice speech tonight. I want this guy to be a President, he knows how to think for himself. I fell in love with him when I saw him for the first time kicking some conservative ass on Fox News Channel, even though I was moderate or slightly conservative at the time.
Iraq: it wasn't terribly wrong for us to go in but the result has unfortunately rallied some anti-Americanism and we need to do *something* about it... I hope Kerry knows what, because Bush is out of ideas and I don't have any good suggestions. It sounds like Kerry-Edwards want to increase military spending and use a larger army to combat the problems. That could work if we associate some new policies with a new President and show other countries we mean business... generously. But we can't soften up too much either.
Oh, but I loved the idea pushed by another speaker... energy idependence! It's a shame it's not practical but definitely a noble goal. She said Kerry is going to go for this and of course I know energy independence (specifically oil) won't happen in four years, but it makes me rest easier for our future when we have that destination in mind. I hope some day our foreign policy won't have to be a sham in countries like Saudi Arabia simply for their oil.
The Dems will only raise taxes for the top 2%? Two problems I see with this idea are: First, the government will need a LOT more than that if we are to solve all the problems they plan to and at the same time get out of the hole in terms of owing other countries money. Second, while we don't mind cramping the extravagant lifestyles of some rich people, they do employ a lot of other people... I don't see this creating a lot of jobs. Call it trickle-down economics but it does mean something. And really I wouldn't mind paying more taxes when I'd see benefits like health care and the like; benefits that would be more than likely outweigh the tax hike.
So in conclusion I've got a couple problems with the platform presented thus far, and I support a lot of the other positions, but we'll really find out the real deal tomorrow night anyway. Still, I can't help but think Kerry will do a better job than Bush. Elections in which the incumbent doesn't run must be much harder to decide.
Please respond if you have an opinion on any of these, it is a truly great way to learn.
...that enough is enough. As it stands I'm voting for Kerry. Two reasons and sadly they're problems with Bush & co. - but I really don't expect these to change while other matters shift and Kerry's platform is revealed.
1. George, you fucked up the budget, I don't like owing so much money, these foreign countries are quite literally going to own us, get the hell out and don't call yourself a conservative
2. George, your buddy John Ashcroft fucked up my civil rights, I used to think Republicans stood for freedom
On top of that I've come to understand, after so many years, the nature of the truly well-meaning Democrat. The Kerry-Edwards team have me pretty convinced they are of this type. If they make good on their intentions I'm confident, at least on most issues, they will make the world a better place. At the same time, I mistrust Bush's motives for the way he's handled most issues. I used to be one who admired, even subscribed to the conservative spirit - that the best way is to make your own way. Unfortunately I have always held a conflicting belief in absolute fairness and I understand the world a little more... inheritng status from one's family is the antithesis of equality and I can no longer stand for it. While I still have faith in many Republicans' true honest spirit, including that of my own grandmother here in liberal Maryland, I cannot allow the fruitless and insensitive reign of Bush to continue.
John Edwards went on the podium today. His theme: "Hope is on the way". Wait, what? Shouldn't hope be here already? Whatever, it was good. He made the case for general liberal values and for Kerry's values in particular. I was surprised by his accent but it should appeal to many of them red states I hope. Really I must be biased by this week because I don't see this being a close race. Anyway, Edwards is cool, I did enjoy his speech. Kerry will be more crucial tomorrow night.
One note that concerns me is "Fair trade" which is a misnomer if I ever heard one. A speaker tonight assured the Democrats that jobs would come back as we "enforce the rules of fair trade". Now some incentives I can stand by, like that for American-made hybrid cars... as long as those really are better in MPG (heh or Kilos per Liter), over which there is some controversy. But the economic concept of fair trade is this: anybody anywhere can trade with whomever they want at whatever price they agree on. That is fairness, and that is economic efficiency on the global scale. When we erect barriers we don't help our reputation in the world. When we bar trade too weakly and lose jobs it says our economy needs restructuring, not more barriers. But no one wants to say that to people who have spent their lives in one career because it means they will have to be completely retrained to produce something our nation has a comparative advantage in (and I'm not precisely sure what that is). Anyway, this idea of getting jobs back by ending "outsourcing" simply makes me uneasy.
Going all over the place here... Al Sharpton! Made a nice speech tonight. I want this guy to be a President, he knows how to think for himself. I fell in love with him when I saw him for the first time kicking some conservative ass on Fox News Channel, even though I was moderate or slightly conservative at the time.
Iraq: it wasn't terribly wrong for us to go in but the result has unfortunately rallied some anti-Americanism and we need to do *something* about it... I hope Kerry knows what, because Bush is out of ideas and I don't have any good suggestions. It sounds like Kerry-Edwards want to increase military spending and use a larger army to combat the problems. That could work if we associate some new policies with a new President and show other countries we mean business... generously. But we can't soften up too much either.
Oh, but I loved the idea pushed by another speaker... energy idependence! It's a shame it's not practical but definitely a noble goal. She said Kerry is going to go for this and of course I know energy independence (specifically oil) won't happen in four years, but it makes me rest easier for our future when we have that destination in mind. I hope some day our foreign policy won't have to be a sham in countries like Saudi Arabia simply for their oil.
The Dems will only raise taxes for the top 2%? Two problems I see with this idea are: First, the government will need a LOT more than that if we are to solve all the problems they plan to and at the same time get out of the hole in terms of owing other countries money. Second, while we don't mind cramping the extravagant lifestyles of some rich people, they do employ a lot of other people... I don't see this creating a lot of jobs. Call it trickle-down economics but it does mean something. And really I wouldn't mind paying more taxes when I'd see benefits like health care and the like; benefits that would be more than likely outweigh the tax hike.
So in conclusion I've got a couple problems with the platform presented thus far, and I support a lot of the other positions, but we'll really find out the real deal tomorrow night anyway. Still, I can't help but think Kerry will do a better job than Bush. Elections in which the incumbent doesn't run must be much harder to decide.
Please respond if you have an opinion on any of these, it is a truly great way to learn.