For such a supposedly monumental election, the sheer lack of issues addressed in this campaign season is disappointing. This lack of civil discourse illustrates both democracy’s greatest strength and its greatest weakness: the voters.
In no other system of government do the people have this kind of voice–in fact, in no other system do the people set the terms of the election. This election turned to the economy because the voters demanded it, and demands of the American electorate at large require nothing less than a candidate’s total compliance.
But the pitfalls of this system are obvious. Important issue after important issue has been passed over simply because the masses say they’re not of value this time around–and the ones that are discussed have been dumbed down in order to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
That’s not change, that’s more of the same.
Of course the economy is important. But even the intelligence of the economy debate has been lowered to a shockingly low degree, in addition to the following things:
Education. It’s easy to poke fun at the failures of American public education when you go to a wealthy, international private school like I do. And yes, I’m hating school right now too. But if I have to sit here and tell you how important it is that America improve its public schools, then you probably shouldn’t be voting, let alone reading this note.
I don’t know a great deal about this topic, so I won’t write too much about it. But then again, both these guys are supposed to know enough about this stuff to become the 44th President, so I wish I would hear their thoughts on the matter.
Foreign Policy. Here’s where it gets ugly. I’m sick–so, so, sick–of hearing how President Obama/McCain is going to bring the War on Terror to Afghanistan and bomb the extremists back to the fucking Stone Age. That’s not foreign policy, that’s chest-thumping. What about America’s relationship with China, the world’s rising Eastern superpower? Or with India, the world’s largest democracy? Or with the ever-so-erratic North Korea? What about Darfur–should we or shouldn’t we intervene? I doubt Russia would have even entered the “debate” had it not invaded Georgia. Why have both candidates babbled incessantly about how irresponsible the other guy’s Iraq War policy is, but never stopped for a minute to talk about whether or not stationing over 572,000 troops in more than 700 military bases overseas is a good idea to begin with?
And what about the issues that are debated? I’m not satisfied with having both candidates say exactly the same thing, are you?
Here’s a clip that illustrates what I mean:
http://www.236.com/video/2008/watch_synchronized_presidentia_9857.php
John McCain, a Senator of 22 years, is much smarter than to label Obama’s tax plan as “socialist” (it’s not, even if I disagree with it), accuse him of “spreading the wealth”, and just move on. How about explaining why raising taxes on the rich hurts the economy more than it does to help it? Or talking about Supreme Court appointments in more specific terms than “judges who don’t legislate from the bench.” Well, yeah. I don’t know anyone who opposes that.
And I expect more than “McCain=Bush” from a man as thoughtful and educated as Barack Obama. He knows that isn’t true, and he’s smart enough to address each of McCain’s plans point-by-point and argue why they’re the wrong idea instead of gathering all of them under the umbrella of “McCain/Bush” and expecting it to stick. (well, okay, it has). How about explaining why you’re opposed to privatizing Social Security instead of throwing one-liners like “gambling with your savings” (which is misleading)?
I applaud Bob Schieffer for trying to make the third debate more than a series of campaign talking points, but not even he could break that trend.
I’m disappointed with this election–with the candidates, with the lack of issues discussed, and with the lack of intelligent debate. I’m disappointed today, and when your candidate wins, I’ll give you three months before you’re disappointed too, because neither the Constitution nor common sense allows the President to become the earth’s savior. The 44th President is going to be a human being who will fuck some things up simply because he is of our species (even if it sometimes seems like they aren’t). No matter who wins, Israel and Palestine will be locked in perpetual conflict, AIDS will still be ravaging Africa, and Congress, not the President, will still have the power to make laws. Did you read that last part? THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CANNOT MAKE LAWS. So when you hear each man talking about how they’ll change the world, think about it realistically.
…oh, by the way–um, VOTE, YO!
