Will Change Actually Happen?

First I would like to say that this great nation of ours has come a long way to see a bi-racial (although the media dubs him as African-American...Nevertheless, he is still a non-white aged) man be in contention for the presidency of the United States. Each presidential candidate has talked about change. Will this change actually happen? Maybe...but let’s look at things realistically. First, a good case study will be the war in Iraq. Senator Obama plan is to start military withdraw from Iraq in the summer of 2010, which is about two years from now. In sixteen months, the mass-majority of U.S. troops would be deployed out of Iraq. Afterward, a counter-terrorism team will remain in Iraq to continue the fight against Al-Qaeda in the region. Training of Iraqi forces will continue and no permanent U.S. bases would be built. McCain policy is to continue to have U.S. forces in Iraq to "finish the fight" against terrorism and continue to maintain stability with U.S. military. Both McCain and Obama plans have similar policies on helping Iraq stabilize democracy, training Iraqi troops, and build the economy. Looking at both sides it is clear cut that Obama is for the full withdraw of troops and McCain is not.

What if McCain wins the election? We are not pulling out of Iraq any time soon. Reasonably, this makes sense. If a revised plan to help Iraq stabilize democracy, continue humanitarian efforts, training the Iraqi military, eliminating the influence and regime of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and essentially fixing what President Bush has broken then there is a good chance for stability. The bad news is that we are still going to pump 10 BILLION dollars into Iraq a month in which continues to add onto the current 10 TRILLION dollar U.S. deficit. Further, the United States is worth 13 trillion dollars (G.O.P) so in order to pay that debt off we would have to double the nations GOP.

What if Obama wins the election? Is it truly realistic that we will pull out of Iraq in the current shape the country is in right now? If Sen. Obama does become the next president he would have to live with the Bush legacy. What does that mean? Well, since Obama is for the withdrawal of U.S. troops out of Iraq, it is a damned if we do, damned of we don’t scenario. We cannot just pull out of that situation. The United States has dug a hole in Iraq and there is no simple way out. Pulling out the troops will satisfy the American citizens but we leave Iraq in shambles. Thus, Obama will not look good at all in regards to the Middle East even though it was a President Bush (bone-headed) decision. So realistically, I do not believe that Obama will have troops deployed out of Iraq by 2011 or even 2012. I believe if Obama was elected to a second term that we will see progress in regards to a withdrawal of U.S. troops. However, Obama logistically pull out of Iraq within the next four years and I believe his advisors would encourage such conditions.

The bottom line for both McCain and Obama, you are taking over the legacy (folly) of George W. Bush. The country will still have a trillion dollar deficit and we will still have a two-front war on terror which brings me to the topic of Afghanistan. My opinion that is the war we need a victory in and possibly find the tallest guy in the region on dialysis…Bin Laden. Iraq is a large flaw in our international relationships and foreign policies. The withdrawal of U.S. forces is more complex than what Obama has promised under an Obama/Biden administration.

Next issue is Iran. McCain encourages the international community to apply pressure with the United States on both Syria and Iran in regards to the recent questionable behavior. McCain Iraq plan also will provide Iran the idea that the U.S. is not going to budge and force will be applied in the region for intolerable behavior. Obama plan for Iran is to have diplomacy without preconditions. The Obama administration will offer Iran the choice to abandon the nuclear program or not. If Iran decides to abandon, the U.S. under Obama would give Iran the incentives to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), economic investments, and a normal diplomatic relationship with the United States. If Iran continues inappropriate behavior the Obama administration will treat Iran with political isolation. The idea of force for the current right-winged conservative politician means bomb the hell out of the enemy and hope the example was provided for other questionable behavior-issued nations. The left-winged liberal politician idea of force is to bomb just enough to provide an example and have democratic talks afterwards. Overall, I believe that Iran will continue its questionable behavior no matter what candidate is in the oval office and if the Iranian situations escalade that U.S. force, depending on liberal or conservative means of using the force (corny Star Wars cheap pop…I know), will be implemented.

We can go on for hours about what may or may not change but the point is to actually look at the possible realistic situation about what is going on in the country and world. I believe that both candidates are not that politically strong, and as a newly Independent registered voter, I believe that the new trends of the political parties are being controlled by far left and right leaders. The Republican Party is not the same as it was 30 years ago. The Republicans of yesteryears did not consist of those who incorporate religious values and gun-ho war mangle tactics into their policies but actually consisted of social policies and fought against, at the time, Southern Democrats who were against social policies and Civil rights. Further, the Democrats of today have taken the lead in dealing with social policies and issues, however, the leaders of the party have a sense of intellectual arrogance that is not received well by the middle class Americans. It is not the fact that Middle America is not intelligent, that is a classism idea (discrimination based on socioeconomic class), but it is evident with the latest voting trends since the 2000s have been leaned towards Republican for this very reason. It is rare in today politics to find a liberal Republican or a conservative Democrat and neither presidential candidate fit those categories.

Nevertheless, this election has historic implications and expectations to be pivotal to American society. Race is playing a huge part in this election and those emotions are evident on both spectrums. There are people voting for Obama because he is a non-White male and there are people not voting for him because he is biracial (African-American). Ageism and Sexism exist as well, people will not vote for McCain either because of his old age or his running-mate is a woman. It is quite unfair that these isms exist in this country but that is the reality of the situation. Further, with the economic crisis in progress it has thrown a major wrench in each candidate’s campaign. In the long run it is not who the president of this country who will dictate how the economy will recover, the power is in our control. We are a country that is run on credit and that has cost us dearly. It is calculated that the each American contributes about $34,000 towards the $10 trillion deficit. Of course is does not help to have a two front war of choice and not by last resort going on that pumps billions of dollars out of the country. Further, for those in college who need to pay school through loans does not help out. Nevertheless, as an aging generation from the Regan era, we need to stop relying on credit and support the free market with actual money. Moreover, reform in general needs to take place in the United States on Civil Rights issues in regards to Gays and Lesbians equal rights, a failed No Child Left Behind reform, an outdated education system, welfare and other social security issues, health care, and economic system. To finish on an optimistic note, whomever you vote for on November 4^th, hopefully this person can take the United States into the right direction. Many of my opinions are idealistic but the thoughts exist and hopefully this country can take a turn into a positive direction within my lifetime.

--Mr. Lincoln

“My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.” Abraham Lincoln

The Next Social Civil Rights Movement

Gays and lesbians.

One of the issues in the presidential election is Gay Marriage. Should people of the same sex be allowed to marry each other for basic civil rights such as visitation in hospitals, tax breaks, buying homes without being turned away, and etc. Each candidate has stated their views about Gay Marriage and in my opinion under a McCain/Palin administration we will have another four years of what we are doing about the situation now...nothing. If under a Obama/Biden administration I feel that there will be strong efforts to come up with a positive solution about the issue, thus, action.

Nevertheless, I strongly believe the next civil rights movement is the issue of equal rights for Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgender (GLBT) people. There are two arguments that involve how civil rights movements begin. Some believe that a law has to take into effect and that would spark the movement. Others say that it occurs once that population is tired of the inequality and because of the lack of action, and/or lack of support to make certain law, the peoples involved will start the movement.

I believe it will take a combination of both. I feel that once a federal law passes that states that Gays are allowed to have either a Civil Union or Marriage that a movement will start and that law will spark other issues, such as discrimination, to come into the American light and the government will have to make moves to establish or elaborate on existing Civil Rights Laws. I feel that under an Obama and Democratic congress that Obama will select some new Supreme Court members that are more liberal, thus, such an act or law will pass. Moreover, a more Democratic House and Senate will also eliminate the possibility of Republican Filibusters and have bills go into action to vote to pass on or not.

Finally, because of the era we live in today the society is more accepting of the GLBT community. However, there is still acts of discrimination and unequal rights that exist that still prohibits some people to come out. Moreover, some specific cultures in the United States are strongly opposed to homosexuality and with more programs and information about the GLBT community will hopefully educate those communities and make it more accepting for such lifestyle. Further, I feel that more younger Americans are more accepting of the GLBT community and my fellow Dead Presidents might agree that we know there is nothing wrong with the GLBT community and it is a simple lifestyle that existed for thousands of years. Why as a nation of freedoms and equal rights that we still have an issue with granting those same principles of equality towards Americans with a different sexual preference? These hypocrisies are the very reason why so many Americans believe in an ideal of change. I believe that we still have 20th century laws in the 21st century and we have to make the adaptation.

My final opinion. What needs to happen to really spark this movement?

Comparing the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s to the possible GLBT movement I have a list to break down what I feel needs to happen before this movement is a reality.

1. The U.S. Military must rid the Don't Ask/Don't Tell policy and accept Gays into the military. (Other major NATO powers such as Great Britain, Canada, etc. have accepted Gays into the military) [The US Military under the Truman Administration granted Minorities in the Military equal rights]

2. Pass a Civil Union Law.
[This may be similar to the Brown v. Board law which sparked some controversy and some Historians agree was the one of the first acts of the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s]

3. A number of incidents occur that project discrimination.
[They already exist today, but let something occur like certain states (i.e. Mississippi) not support such Federal law. This will spark demonstrations, rallies, protests, etc.]

4. Possibility of other GLBT issues brought to the Federal Government level and thus address Civil Rights for all GLBT.
[Similar to the 1964-65 Civil Rights Act]

5. This can start the next possible social movement: Gender issues.
[After examination of sexuality, it will lead to looking at the inequalities of men and women issues...which has been long overdue]

Conclusion:

Civil Rights Movements are a long process and depends on who is in office and what major party rules the House, Senate, and Supreme Court. Nevertheless, I believe it will happen in the next 10 years and no more than 20 years. Once this movement is over, I believe it will spark the issues of gender inequality and will lead to an examination of gender roles in our society as a whole.

--Mr. Lincoln