I’ll start off with this great quote I read on uber blogger Amit Varma’s India Uncut blog.
Under democracy, one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule – and both commonly succeed, and are right.
I agree. With all due respect to the leading candidates, and discounting the rhetoric, there is little difference between either party.
If John McCain wins, he will possibly be faced with a Democrats-controlled House and Senate. Even if the Republicans win back both in 2010, by then McCain will be preparing for re-election which means he will have very little time to push through any of his plans in terms of a legacy. However, he will have the veto pen, which would not bode well for any grand social programs the Democrats have in mind.
On the flipside if Barack Obama wins, he will possibly have an embarrassment of riches in terms of a Democrats-controlled legislature, which at least for the next two years translates to absolute power and we all know, what they say about absolute power.
Observers and voters seem to be divided between the two candidates based on party lines and claim to vote for the lesser evil and therein lies my biggest beef (beef, sacrilegious, I know).
The Republicans insist that Barack Obama and the Democrat party will push America into a socialist era of big government spending. News flash to the Republicans, they are as pro-big government as the other party. Only difference is that they push big spending government programs like agriculture and defense whereas the Democrats push public welfare, healthcare and the likes.
The Democrats, meanwhile, accuse the Republicans of stifling freedom of speech and individual rights in a fascist manner under the guise of patriotism. The Democrats do the same, under the guise of social equality and political correctness.
A lot of Republicans consider themselves to be libertarians, which is true until it comes to social issues like gay marriage and abortion, where to some extent they approve of government interference in private lives. By that same measure Democrats are largely social libertarians, but on the economic side, threaten to run up the taxation of individuals to support social welfare programs, a.k.a, the larger good.
Given this scenario, both parties seems to be polar opposites, yet eerily similar. Barack Obama and John McCain are but figureheads for the ideologies of their respective parties.
Whatever their political affiliations are, both John McCain and Barack Obama are outstanding individuals and, discounting a repeat of Florida 2000, strictly as individuals, America is fortunate that one of them will be President-elect come Wednesday morning. Compared to the field of candidates from the last election, the results of this one seem more palatable (unless of course, your guy is on the losing side).
Even though early voting has started in many states, the big one is tomorrow. The polls almost represent a rivalry clash in sports with both sides donning their respective gear in terms of t-shirts, banners and bumper stickers, talking trash, hopeful for a victory and unwilling to listen to reason. Drawing from another sports cliche, so long as the transition of power happens without bloodshed on the streets, democracy is the winner.
Being largely immune to rhetoric and having been witness to two bitterly contested elections, and witness to the results and subsequent fallout, that is my perspective. Vote (if you can) but don’t fall for the rhetoric. I’m a brown immigrant blogger who cannot vote and I approve this message.
Loading ...