Well, I'm not here to tell you what decision to make, as the entire process is founded upon each individual thinking for themselves and voting according to their conscience. I will, however, share some points that have helped me towards making my decision. This is more for my own benefit than anything, as writing about the decision process helps me make a proper analysis of my views in guiding my decision.
I am mostly likely voting for Barack Obama. Unless something drastic occurs in the next month to change my mind (unlikely), I am pretty sure that my decision is made. Why am I voting for Obama? First perhaps I should share some of my own values regarding the "key issues" in this election.
- War in Iraq - I think it's time for the war to draw to an end. We've had troops there for 5 years now, and I think we've largely accomplished what it was we intended to do. Hussein has been executed, a democratic government has been established, and we are winning (I hear) in our efforts against the insurgents. Surely, we should not pull out tomorrow, but there out to be a clear plan and timetable for accomplishing our remaining goals and letting Iraq's new government begin to solve it's own problems. Am I worried about their capability to stand on their own? Yes, but we can't be there forever. It's time that we began to transfer more and more control back to the Iraqis and devoted some money back to the important issues we have elsewhere, like at home. I will admit that in retrospect, I don't think that we ought to have invaded Iraq. The rationale for invading turned out to be flawed (WMDs), I think we've strained relations with our allies in doing so, and we hadn't finished our business in Afghanistan with bin Laden's ilk. It's never a good idea to start another war when you haven't finished the one you currently waging.
- The Economy - There's a lot of finger pointing about who's fault the current economic recession is and about what exactly caused it. It is my opinion that looking for people to blame is helpful in finding a solution, so it bothers me when both candidates engage in such behavior. Presently, however, it seems like there is a general consensus that lack of proper regulation on the housing market is the largest immediate contributor. I support more stringent regulation in financing law. Customers should not be allowed to take out loans that it is obvious they cannot repay, and banks should not be pressured into giving out those loans. When it comes to tax breaks, I think the middle class should receive more than the upper class. No one who is making $200,000+/yr is in dire need of more money. Support the middle class, they are the backbone of our economy.
- Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan - We ought to have finished our task in Afghanistan before we started invading other nations. Now we are losing ground in Afghanistan that we never should have been worried about losing. Osama bin Laden's forces are wounded but recovering in Pakistan, and they are posing a major threat to our efforts in the region. We have to work with Pakistan in taking them out. In order to do that we have to maintain open dialogue with Pakistan and not bully them around. At the same time, we also need to be ready to use our own forces aggressively if needed. If Pakistan will not cooperate, we must find some other way to destroy the remnants on the Taliban that are harboring within their borders.
With regards to Iran, we cannot afford to allow them to develop nuclear weapons, or even have the technology that would give them the potential to do so. However, refusing to talk with them until all our demands are met is not going to accomplish anything, because by that point what is there to talk about? We must sit with Iran's leaders and assert our position face to face. We can do this without losing any authority. We must make Iran take us and the nuclear nonproliferation agreement seriously, and if that means flexing our muscles are some point, then will have to be willing to catiously and judiciously take those very dangerous steps. - Energy - as long as we remain dependent upon Middle-Eastern oil, they will always exert a good amount of effort over us. We ought to have ended this dependence decades ago. We do not have the oil reserves to equate our current oil consumption. We have to look into alternative energy sources (preferably renewable) if we are to become energy self-reliant. This requires investing in research and development of energy technology. We can export our energy technology to help offset these costs and benefit other nations, including our allies. We ought to become a leader in alternative energy technology.
- The Environment - We will always be dependent upon our environment for resources. We must therefor protect our environment from inappropriate exploitation through proper regulation. At the same time, we must be wary of the effects of such regulation on the economy and not overregulate. With respect to climate change, there is overwhelming data that supports that we are experiencing a very significant shift in global climates, the consequences of which are not certain. Whether these changes are man-made or natural (there is data for both, though most supports human impact), we still ought to be resposible stewards over our planet. We ought to invest in clean energy technology, and work to reduce as much as possible our impacts on the environment. Global warming or global swarming, reducing carbon emissions certainly wont hurt the environment, and it can be done in ways without damaging the economy.
- Abortion - I oppose abortion, at any stage on embryonic development. States should be allowed to create their own regulations on the availability of abortions. There are certainly situations where an unwanted pregnancy is not the mother's fault (i.e. rape), but neither is it the baby's fault whose life is in question. Killing a baby is never the answer to the problem.
- Gay Marriage - I do not support same-sex marriage. However, I also do not believe that persons should be denied consitutional rights based on their sexual orientation. Such things as hospital visitation rights, etc, should not be denied homosexual individuals anymore than they should be denied people based on race or religion. However, the family in the traditional sense is still, and always will be, the foundation and basic unit of society by its very nature. As such, marriage should remained defined solely as a heterosexual relationship.
- Health Care - This is admittedly one of the issues I know the least about. However, from what I know, I can say the following: every U.S. citizen should have access to affordable, competent health care, without unreasonable hassle. The question seems to lie with, "who should pay for it?" Inasmuch as privatized health care in its current state hasn't solved the problem, I think that there should be some form of public health care system available. The details of that system are where I am yet undecided.
- Gun Control - Our consitutional right to bear arms should be protected. However, the ease with which certain forms of arms can be acquired should be regulated. I support bans on automatic weapons, and regulations on who can acquire handguns (within reason).
- Immigration - Illegal immigration is parasitism on the U.S. system resulting is decreases in American jobs, less cash flow within our borders (as many immigrants send money home to family members abroad, increases in crime (especially identity theft), and decreases in American wages (since immigrants will work for less). There are proper routes and protocol for gaining citizenship in the United States that must be enforced. Illegal immigrants should not be afforded ANY of the rights that come with U.S. citizenship, including drivers licenses, health care, education, etc. I support tightening our borders, deportation, and other punishment of illegal immigration. I also support making the proper channels of immigration more accessible, and providing incentives for working through those channels.
In addition, I have NOT been impressed with the McCain campaign. In my following the campaign news and debates, I have heard far too few specifics regarding the McCain policies should he be elected. I also find his VP pick very unsettling. When you consider the much larger influence that Vice Presidents have had in recent administrations than previous ones, and when you also consider that one day the VP could become president, Sarah Palin as a Vice President is a considerably frightening notion. I say this because of her extreme lack of experience, her ineptitude with the public media, and what appears to be her ignorance regarding Washington and foreign affairs. I certain would not feel safe having Mrs. Palin as Commander in Chief.
Last night's VP debates also revealed another interesting point. When voting for a President you must also consider whether or not their running mate is committed to carrying out their promises should the President die. Last night, I did not get the impression that should John McCain die as President that Mrs. Palin would carryout the plans on McCain campagin, while Joe Biden seemed much more likely to continue the Obama campaign policies if placed in the same situation. This might seem trivial to many people, but I found this very interesting since of the two candidates, the one most likely to die during their term as President is probably Sen. McCain. In fact, if we look at an actuarial life table we can calculate that the odds of Sen. McCain dying in the next four years is 15.2%. That's not even considering his history of recurring cancer. Not the best odds in my opinion.
