Political Post: Do the Right Thing
To say that I'm disappointed by the results of the election is something of an understatement. I'm disappointed and greatly concerned about where things might be headed in the near future. Not that I think the now-Republican House will lead us into chaos, necessarily, but I do question where their economic policies will lead us. So many of the people elected tonight want to take us down the same economic path favored by Regan and then Bush--which is precisely what created the current situation we're grappling with.
But my bigger frustration is how certain Republican leaders have stated that the most important thing is to make Obama a "one-term president." Really? Because I'm kind of thinking maybe the most important thing ought to be reviving the economy. And like it or not, that power rests with the House. They can enact the policies that will save or sink us, and they want to get absorbed with petty party lines?
I'd be saying the same thing had the Democrats swept Congress prior to Bush's second term, and set out with the same agenda, facing the same circumstances. You do not root for the government to fail when there are other, far more pressing needs that will not be met by said failure. It was the same when Rush Limbaugh wished for Obama to fail, and he was eloquently rebuffed with the reminder that wishing the Commander-in-Chief to fail is wishing for the country to fail. And these people have the audacity to call themselves patriots, to wrap themselves in the mantle of Thomas Jefferson and claim to want a return to the people?
I've disagreed with a lot of criticism lobbed at Obama the last few months. Complaints that he hasn't fulfilled his promises, that he has no present spine, that banking on hope turned out to be foolish. And it's almost as if even his most loyal of supporters has forgotten he inherited a mess that nobody could have hoped to clear out in such a short time. I shudder to think what might have taken place had McCain made it to the White House instead of him.
That isn't to say Obama's perfect. Far from it. I still feel like he's been too willing to compromise on my hot button issues, abortion and gay rights. When we're talking about fundamental liberties, there shouldn't be a compromise. Basically, I'm of the opinion that people need to do the right thing. It's so simple, isn't it? Just do the right thing! In this case, you're the president of one of the most powerful nations in the world--you can set the international precedent for human and civil rights by decriminalizing abortion and gay marriage. Do the right thing here--just do the right thing!
The right thing is also to vote. If you are a liberal, or a Democrat, or someone who doesn't want to live under Republican rule but you didn't vote, I'd like to know why. Where did this apathy come in? The fact that it was hardly a landslide in the Republican's favor tells me that this wasn't about punishing the House Democrats; this was a case of apathy, plain and simple. So, if you fit into the category described above, what did you get by not voting? Why didn't you do it?
But my bigger frustration is how certain Republican leaders have stated that the most important thing is to make Obama a "one-term president." Really? Because I'm kind of thinking maybe the most important thing ought to be reviving the economy. And like it or not, that power rests with the House. They can enact the policies that will save or sink us, and they want to get absorbed with petty party lines?
I'd be saying the same thing had the Democrats swept Congress prior to Bush's second term, and set out with the same agenda, facing the same circumstances. You do not root for the government to fail when there are other, far more pressing needs that will not be met by said failure. It was the same when Rush Limbaugh wished for Obama to fail, and he was eloquently rebuffed with the reminder that wishing the Commander-in-Chief to fail is wishing for the country to fail. And these people have the audacity to call themselves patriots, to wrap themselves in the mantle of Thomas Jefferson and claim to want a return to the people?
I've disagreed with a lot of criticism lobbed at Obama the last few months. Complaints that he hasn't fulfilled his promises, that he has no present spine, that banking on hope turned out to be foolish. And it's almost as if even his most loyal of supporters has forgotten he inherited a mess that nobody could have hoped to clear out in such a short time. I shudder to think what might have taken place had McCain made it to the White House instead of him.
That isn't to say Obama's perfect. Far from it. I still feel like he's been too willing to compromise on my hot button issues, abortion and gay rights. When we're talking about fundamental liberties, there shouldn't be a compromise. Basically, I'm of the opinion that people need to do the right thing. It's so simple, isn't it? Just do the right thing! In this case, you're the president of one of the most powerful nations in the world--you can set the international precedent for human and civil rights by decriminalizing abortion and gay marriage. Do the right thing here--just do the right thing!
The right thing is also to vote. If you are a liberal, or a Democrat, or someone who doesn't want to live under Republican rule but you didn't vote, I'd like to know why. Where did this apathy come in? The fact that it was hardly a landslide in the Republican's favor tells me that this wasn't about punishing the House Democrats; this was a case of apathy, plain and simple. So, if you fit into the category described above, what did you get by not voting? Why didn't you do it?