As I write today I do so without panic but rather informed concern. I also have to wonder aloud just how bad does it have to get before we deal with or address the elephant in the room. That is there seems to be evidence mounting as we approach election day, the desire among those all too reported demographic middle aged white women, or so called low information voters is becoming more and more skitish about electing an african american president. Seniors at the risk of electing someone who proposes to privatize social security overwhelmingly contradict rational thought.
I'm writing this as I watch the news report the bailout of Merrill Lynch, the failure of Lehman Brothers. The government discussing just how much the tax payer will chip in to bailout Fannie/Freddie. There is an energy crisis, unemployment is the worst its been in years. People are dying daily in both wars; its costing the country ten billion dollars a day to fight these wars. Millions of people are without healthcare, thousands of people are without healthcare. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we are on the wrong track as a country. Yet, also today one candidate in a speech given today; again after being lambasted time and time again repeats that "the economy is fundamentally strong".
This given the situation we are in screams out of touch or just plain clueless. How can someone think this economy is strong given the current state of affairs? How can someone who has also admitted they don't know much about the ecomomy be trusted to turn it around? How can someone who doesn't know how many houses they own, relate to those of us who are fighting to keep the one we have? Surely this person should expect to see an audience of one as he tours the country.
This sadly however, is not the case; in fact it is far from it. The crowds have become larger. This individual has vaulted ahead in the polls. Americans seem to prefer four more years of the current ecomomic, war, and foriegn policy that we have. There seems to be no sense of urgency that the country is on the wrong track, nor does it need to change course.
The contrast between the two candidates could not be more clear. One candidate is young, charasmatic, intelligent, seeks a substantive debate of the issues our country faces; has a firm grasp on the best way to get us out of this quandry we find ourselves in; oh yeah he happens to be black. The other candidate will be the oldest president to enter office, has admitted a lack of economic understanding, has demonstrated a militaristic approach to foriegn policy, has a narrow view of energy policy, has a reputation for making less than thoughtful decisions; oh yeah he's a war hero.
I would think this would be a campaign that would be more a slam dunk than a war of attrition, yet the polls and indeed now; the electoral college favors the candidate who seemingly has no clue.
I ask with all "audacity", and "hope" is america ready to elect an african american president. I ask this as I once again open my wallet and donate to the campaign, and print out more phone numbers from the neighbor to neighbor list to call. I ask this in the hope, like the candidate I support that we can have a substantive discussion.