Here are the top five reasons why I am voting for Barack Obama:
- The Economy - In 2009 the United States is projected to have a deficit of more than $480 BILLION. Our national debt is quickly climbing to $10 TRILLION. Republicans have run our economy into the ground with their irresponsible fiscal policies, and our children (and their children) will pay the price. It is no easy task to pay off $10 trillion dollars in debt. As if our nation’s cash flow problems weren’t enough to be concerned about, the American people aren’t doing so great these days either. With gas at $4 a gallon, and many foods at all time high prices, many American families are struggling to get by. Jobs are being lost, and not being replaced. Paul Krugman posted a graph of employment growth for each president back to Dwight Eisenhower. Notice the clear difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. The Republican Party has proven time and time again that they are not good stewards of the economy. It’s time to go with a Democrat.
- The Iraq War - The Iraq War was a mistake from day one. Saddam Hussein was a terrible human being, but he posed little threat to the United States. He had no weapons of mass destruction; he was surrounded by nations that despised him and would contain him (Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, Iran - not to mention the American patrolled no fly zones). Furthermore, Saddam had no role whatsoever in the planning, funding, or execution of the 9/11 attacks. Yes, the Iraqi people are better off without Saddam Hussein. But Iraq distracted us from the war we should have been fighting. It is still distracting us from the war we should be fighting. The Iraqi government and military can step up and take control of their nation. It’s time for the United States to withdraw and refocus it’s military efforts where they are most needed. Barack Obama supports withdrawal in 16 months so that we can do just that. Which of course brings me to reason 3.
- The War in Afghanistan - Obama recognizes that Afghanistan is the central front in the War on Terror. He advocates sending at least an additional two brigades to Afghanistan. We should have had these extra troops there in the first place. It is well documented that Osama bin Laden was in Tora Bora when we bombed it, but slipped out through the mountain passes. We did not have enough troops to adequately secure the area to assure his death or capture. This is a mistake that will not be made a second time if Barack Obama is president. On September 11th, 2001 Al Qaeda, on the orders of Osama bin Laden, attacked the United States and killed more than 3,000 people. in the 7 years since the Bush Administration has failed to capture or kill bin Laden. It’s clear that Republican priorities are flawed, but John McCain wants to continue those policies. Barack Obama will capture kill Osama bin Laden because his foreign policy will be focused on Afghanistan and dismantling terror networks, rather than foolish and costly preemptive wars.
- Health Care - The health care system in the United States is a mess. Despite spending far more on health care than any other industrialized nation, Americans often receive worse care. American life expectancy and infant mortality rates have fallen behind other modernized nations. A major part of the problem is that the lack of quality, affordable health care means that our system focuses on curing an illness rather than preventing it in the first place. Barack Obama has a health care plan that will give access to quality, affordable health care to every single American. John McCain does not. If your health is important to you, the choice in this election is clear.
- Energy - Our economy and our planet are both in peril and a major reason is our dependence on fossil fuels. Not only is this an economic and ecological problem, but it is also a national security problem. We cannot rely on foreign sources of energy and maintain our position as the worlds only superpower. John McCain’s solution is to drill offshore, drill in Alaska, and drill everywhere else we can put an oil well. But we can’t drill our way out of this problem. Barack Obama’s energy plan will guide our nation to energy independence with the use of clean, renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar.
