A Sense of Doubt
Well, the Forth of July has, once again, come and gone. Our country has celebrated another year of our beloved independence. While we all tried our best to enjoy the festivities associated with the holiday, a certain uneasiness seemed to permeate the joy and pride normally associated with this birthday. As to the exact cause of this feeling, there isn't just one. Given the current state of our union, too much is wrong for most Americans to feel overly joyous.
A broad scope shows consumer confidence at an all-time low, the housing market is in shambles, the War in Iraq has thrown us trillions of dollars in debt, the job market continues to stagnate, and gasoline is quickly headed for $5.00 per gallon. Yes, it's good to be king...but of an empire of dirt ?
Americans realize that this country needs some real change of direction. While the Bush regime, err..Administration won't admit that we are in the middle of a recession, it is fairly obvious. If Starbucks is going to close 600 stores, and GM is considering bankruptcy, we're definitely hurting economically.
Given the facts at hand, a sense of doubt regarding our future is quite palpable.
Doubt often precedes real fear. The necessary changes required to turn our situation around also dictate that new leadership should be considered.
That the Republicans have put John McCain at the forefront of their hopes to retain control of the White House is almost comical. He possesses neither the vision nor the experiential history to genuinely affect any real change in Washington. While the fact that he served his country during the Vietnam era is admirable, having been a P.O.W doesn't uniquely qualify him to be President. Read: Career Politician needs work.
As for Barrack Obama, he is someone who, despite his short time in the Senate, has at least been willing to speak the truth regarding the dire straits we are facing as a nation. He has also stepped up and said "no" to special interests and "yes" to reform of political action committee money and the corporate lobby that has purchased so much of the current legislation that has hurt our country economically. Mr. Obama has also suggested that it's really not "Teen Spirit" we smell, but corruption !
Unfortunately, neither the two-party system nor the antiquated Electoral College are going away prior to November. With that in mind, Americans are facing a tough choice. For some reason, I'm thinking "business as usual" ain't likely to fly come election time.
One thing is certain. Now more than ever, voting one's conscience seems both a moral and economic imperative.
If "hope (really) springs eternal", most of us are, likely, a few quarts low.
