I can’t get enough of this late night election coverage. Four years ago I watched with a passive curiosity, but the recount debacle sucked me in. I’m pretty grateful for that bizarre adventure because it really got me interested in politics. This was back when I was in school and I had quite a bit of free time, so I would watch hour upon hour of political news. Now that I’m employed, I have much less time to sit in front of the TV, but I have been trying to keep up on the campaigns as best as possible. I watched all four debates, and I weekly watch Meet the Press... so who did I vote for? No one. I guess I planned on voting, but my absentee ballot never showed up and I didn’t really notice until it was too late. But honestly I’m kind of glad I didn’t vote because I’m not particularly fond of either candidate.
I fall pretty firmly into the Republican camp on social programs, spending, size of government, environmental issues, etc, etc. However, I’ve been pretty unhappy with Bush’s performance in the past four years (foreign policy and spending stand out as the two biggest problem areas)... but my views still line up better with the GOP. Kerry would probably be better at “being president” but he’d be passing policies that I don’t agree with. Do you see my dilemma? Thankfully I didn’t have to make a decision (and even if I DID vote, it wouldn’t have made a bit of difference). So it looks like Bush is going to be reelected... I think it’s probably the better outcome, but I’m definitely not overjoyed or think that “my guy” won, or anything like that... C’mon 2008!
(and out way out in right field...) We mustn't be afraid of off-shoring. We should capitalize on it. I'm a software techy so it's my job being exported and, yet, I do not fear. Why? Because I am an American. If the world slips out from under me and knocks me on my butt I will figure something out. Adaptability. We will overcome. Isn't this what America is?
So American political idealogy is centered on this inherited Roosevelt/Kennedy -ism. The Republicans are to the right of it and the Democrats are to the left. But the "center" is to the left! If Republicans and Democrats from 100 years ago (or 150 years or whatever they were around 1800) saw this they would be freaked out. I'm pretty sure the federal government has become far too large. It was meant to protect the unity of the nation and the liberty of the individual. Now it legislates social programs. That's just weird if you think about it. One hundred years ago there was no social security, no federal regulation/funding of the schools, etc. Now there is so much muddled with federal influence. The president, congress and the federal judicial system have way too much power.
States, counties, municipalities, Listen!! Take back your rights. Kill the federal hog and reclaim your future! Revive America!
Give power to the people!
I couldn't agree with you more about outsourcing jobs even though I too am on the endangered species list. If America wants to stay #1, it needs to the center of innovation, the place with the cutting edge jobs. That means that we can’t stay complacent in our current jobs, but always be learning new skills and moving to the next new thing. We definitely don’t want to just stick with our old jobs and let some other country pass us up on “the next big thing.”
And while we’re disagreeing with commonly held beliefs, let me say that I support Bush’s tax cuts regardless of whether wealthy people got the biggest cuts. The Dems always make it sound like Bush is giving free money to rich people, but obviously he’s taking less money away from them. The government should take as little money as possible from its people; that doesn’t seem like such a hard thing to agree on. I hope the tax cuts continue, of course that means more judicial spending, which REALLY needs to change. The government has definitely become too large, our social programs are growing at an alarming rate. And the talk of universal healthcare just scares me...
I think my problem with Bush is the “compassionate” part of his “compassionate conservative” moniker. I want a heartless bastard in the White House that will hack back all of the social programs and give us a lean, mean governing machine. Bush ain’t gunna do that, and Kerry sure as hell wasn’t going to do it either... maybe I should run for president and pick Billy as my running mate! Hmm, I won't be old enough until 2013, which means it’ll be the 2016 election... That might work out perfect, because Bush will finish in 2008, and Hillary will be finishing her two terms in 2016. And we will seriously be in need for some hack and slash after 8 years of Hillary’s social program bonanza!
I would vote for Jake/Billy in 2016, as long as I can get a cool job like White House Bitch or something like that...
I'm sure we can find a position for you to fill... How about the slutty intern?
Oh all right, I guess I could swallow that!
:)