As I talk to friends and others about the choice of Obama vs. McCain, I've had some difficulty making the "more of the same" tag have power. Something about this phrase has bothered me. More of the same implies status quo, lack of change, same ol' same ol'. While that's pretty damned bad, some might think the pain has been tolerable. Maybe moderate Republicans or some independents think the pain is a manageable trade for the perceived "safety" they might feel with a Republican in the White House.
Then it hit me, "more of the same" is not more of the same. In fact, more of the same, put into action, translates into "worse than before." That's the key.
"More of the same" has been the central theme of our argument against McCain. But that phrase leaves me wanting since it implies status quo. While the status quo has been painful, many of us are still standing, if wobbly. So "more of the same" conveys a message that if you are okay with things as they are, go vote McCain.
This misses the point big time, because the reality is, more of the same actually reflects an equation in which each successive "more of the same" 4 years adds up, or maybe more accurately, compounds negatively towards real and unreversable disaster for the United States, her people and the world. Four more years of this garbage speeds our slide towards the abyss as the slope steepens.
"More of the same" = "Worse than before," much worse.