Who does the boxoffrogs would make a good leader for the United States? This is a muddled question which has much to do with choosing the lesser of two evils. This is because of a two party system which has entrenched itself in American politics. It is my opinion that a great leader would not be beholden to any party line and have his loyalty tied to the good of the country and not to himself. The irony is that these days a potential leader for the United States (or any “free” modern nation) has to have deep enough pockets to influence the media for a favorable reception by the citizenry. Therefore there is already a conflict of interest set in place because if the media isn’t bought, then the citizenry isn’t sold.
The media makes its money by selling us a bunch of sh**t that we don’t need through paid commercial endorsements for products. It has even gotten to the point that the media will actively display certain products in their programming for a price. Ever notice how that label on the Coke can is always facing the camera? So is it such a difficult leap in this day of 24 hour news networks that any “fair and balanced” coverage (positive or negative) would be influenced by a bit of compensation, be it money or favors?
I would imagine we are in a new world of corporate governance where the common people are secondary in the choices being made. This requires two seemingly polarizing political powers that can feed off one another’s diverse positions. These two polarizing positions would then be able to hold the lion share of any political capital and garner financial support from both the population and corporations depending on which side of the issue at hand was bought into. There is no political or economic gain for the media if there aren’t two opposing parties, and with this dynamic any fringe third party gets pretty much shut out of any coverage and funding. If the media doesn’t sell it to the people then there is no one to buy it.
Based on this concept, one therefore must throw in on a candidate from one of two parties in the United States. This is because a true grass roots initiative can not carry a candidate all the way to Election Day…yet. The United States remains too diverse and self serving for a TRUE independent to emerge and garner widespread support. Therefore unless you want to throw your vote away you currently have two choices, until we crack the system. The choices are to vote Democrat or Republican.
There are the Democrats whose principals include:
Choice is a fundamental, constitutional right.
Support affirmative action to redress discrimination.
End corporate welfare.
The U.S. cannot drill its way to energy independence.
Family is the center of American life.
Forward Engagement must guide proactive foreign policy.
Work to close gap between richest and poorest nations.
Strengthen gun control to reduce violence.
Every American should have affordable health insurance.
Encourage military careers with better pay & benefits.
A path for undocumented aliens to earn citizenship.
Change tax system to not encourage shipping jobs overseas.
New vision for America: strong at home, respected abroad.
Appoint judges committed to Constitutional rights.
Oppose privatization of Social Security (the U.S. pension system) and oppose raising retirement age.
Cut taxes for middle class, not the wealthy.
Cut taxes for working families, not richest 1%.
Every home should have Internet access.
Put science ahead of ideology in research and policymaking.
Raise Earned Income Tax Credit & minimum wage to $7 USD an hour & expand middle class.
More complete list at
http://www.ontheissues.org/Democratic_Party.htm
There are the Republicans whose principals include:
Ban abortion with Constitutional amendment.
Lack of any recorded issue on U.S. Federal Budget and Economy. Have to look at each candidate for their spin.
Homosexuality is incompatible with military service.
Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Women exempt from combat.
Death penalty is an effective deterrent.
Best way to deter crime is to enforce existing laws.
Jail time and school drug testing deters drug use.
Limit role of federal government in education.
Achievement is basis for access to college.
No Kyoto Treaty, no mandatory carbon emission controls.
Private property ownership key to environmental agenda.
Encourage market-based solutions to environmental problems.
Families are the cornerstone of our culture.
Support abstinence and fatherhood.
NATO has shared responsibility for peacekeeping.
U.S. should position itself to dominate trade.
Promote free trade with America setting the standards.
Federal government should not interfere with states’ rights.
Will protect right to bear arms.
Government-run universal health care leads to inefficiencies.
Affirm traditional military culture & rebuild morale (no gays).
Only legal immigrants, through tightly controlled borders.
A distinctly American internationalism for the 21st century.
Workers will have choice to invest their payroll taxes.
Cut taxes to stimulate economy and help families.
Move more welfare recipients off the welfare rolls.
More complete list at
http://www.ontheissues.org/Republican_Party.htm
If you really care and are American or want to see what it would be like to have to juggle an “American” agenda in your head about a United States Presidential Vote, you can go here and try this “Candidate Calculator”. I’ve tried it and my guy came in second, but they mentioned someone in the first place slot that will have absolutely no chance, based on the media dance, to get a final party nomination. The site is:
http://www.vajoe.com/candidate_calculator.html (everyone has linked this site and it is bogging down)
http://www.votehelp.org/ seems to be nonbiased candidate calculator and I get the same results.
Based on what I have experienced and the issues that the parties claim they stand on, I am probably more Republican than Democrat (therefore more conservative than liberal). I strongly disagree with many of the stances both parties take.
I would think that Mike Huckabee the Governor of Arkansas is more closely aligned with my values. Here is the best representation I have found about his views. It should be obvious at this point that I think this is a pretty good site.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Huckabee.htm
However I think the future reality may shape Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee. There is the problem I have with the Mormons and the magical underwear. This church is just a little too bizarre for my likings and I really don’t think that his moral foundation is one that matches mine at all.
If Huckabee is out I would totally have to rethink the whole deal. I can not really support the ideals of the State of Massachusetts and that is where this guy is from. You do know I am from the south and that is just the way it is.
A real frightening scenario is John McCain. Everyone runs around touting this guy is such an independent thinker. God bless John McCain going to war for his country and surviving a harsh prisoner of war camp, but do you people HONESTLY think he doesn’t carry any baggage around from that? I know Regan was an old guy when we elected him, but he didn’t have the military background like McCain does. If you love all your children and tax money being used up in some great big Islamic meat grinder then put all your chips in with this guy. Frankly I am tired of being the World’s Police force. I have no idea what we all have in common with the State of Arizona which is where McCain hails from as Senator. I must confess that I am a bit floored by South Carolina putting him up for nomination after he disrespected the Stars n’ Bars.
I would put the odds on favorite for secession from the union again as South Carolina. But South Carolina is not alone.
http://www.vermontrepublic.org/
http://dixienet.org/
http://middleburyinstitute.org/
http://www.hawaiiankingdom.org/
http://www.texasnationalist.com/shindex.shtml
The problem with my little conservative island really boils down to how pissed off everyone is at George Bush and DICK Cheney and the political system as a whole. From the looks of things we may be going Democrat like it or not. In this case I would hope against Hillary on any level. All we need is another ass in the Whitehouse that thinks the world owes them something. Hillary Clinton thinks just because she was a Senator for a short period from a state she isn’t even from, and married to a former President who was having affairs while he was in OUR office…and in the process redefining what is an acceptable level of “sex” is going to fly with me, she’s got another thing coming. I’ll write in Mickey Mouse on my ballot, get a short wave radio and build my bunker if she gets in.
Then there is Barack Obama. He’s pretty far to the left (liberal) on a lot of issues but I really think he is less on the left than Hillary Clinton. In addition, I truly believe he will do what is in the best interest of the United States and her people despite the wired Muslim thing going on. He’s denied the Muslim issue to a point, however he has been exposed in such a way as to make him a unique enigma. Does this make me homophobic and harbor a perhaps irrational fear of Muslims? You bet your ass! At least with this guy, I’ll hold off on building the bunker and stockpiling C-rations…for awhile.
Now to vote as a spoiler or to vote for the guy I really want in the primary is another ironic twist. In my state I have a call into the election commission to see if I need to register a certain party affiliation, or if I can remain independent.
Well that’s my two cents on it. It’s a “free” country ( in most some people’s minds) so I guess we can all say what we will.
