Three Important Issues That Obama and McCain Won’t Be Honest About
There is only a little over three months to go before the 2008 election. The American people will have to decide between a Washington twisted old man Senator known for his hot temper and unpredictably or a relatively inexperienced Senator who talks a good change game but seems to be short on workable ideas as to what that change would be and how to bring change about.
My own take is that the die has already been cast for America. The Bush administration’s irresponsible ways and the concept of American exceptionism embraced by both Obama and McCain are sure to cause much pain and suffering in America as Americans try to understand why they no longer have a blank check that allows them to spend more than they make.
With the political conventions set to dominate the headlines over the next two weeks you would think that Barack Obama and John McCain would be speaking about important issues rather than taking tacky sound bite shots at each other. Here are five important issues that Obama and McCain may briefly talk about but not in an honest way.
1. Global Warming: The latest evidence on the global warming issue is truly alarming. Ice free sea lanes in polar regions may provide short term benefits, such as shortened shipping routes, but the long term implications of raising sea levels is chilling. The talk from the candidates should address the need to start planning for the unthinkable, the loss of vast coastal and near coastal areas not only in far away places like Bangladesh but places that the candidates and Americans cherish, like Washington, D.C. An epic disaster is on the way and no one is talking about it, much less planning for it. It seems that being honest on this issue is just too scary, no one will talk about it.
2. Getting the American War Machine Under Control: America now spends more on it’s military each year than all of the other nations on this planet combined. The stated military budget for 2009 is over 550 billion dollars. Both candidates are talking about expanding the number of men and women serving in the armed forces. The issue that needs to be discussed is reducing America’s self imposed mission to make the world a better place by making it just like us. Has it ever occurred to the candidates that most people are happy about their unique cultures?
3. Economic Pain Likely to be Long Term: No doubt it would take guts to be upfront and honest on this issue. Americans like quick fixes and the reality that America has already peaked as an empire and with its manufacturing base hollowed out has little chance of retaining its privileged position in the world in the 21st century would not be well received by Americans.
The American economy has been built on quicksand. An economy build on consumerism, financial services, hamburger flipping, and spending rather than saving, is sure to fall behind dynamic economies based upon value added manufacturing. Unfortunately, Americans want to hear that everything will be OK, no pain will be required to make some necessary adjustments. It is unlikely that the candidates will be honest and tell Americans that the future for the next many years will be one of struggle as America loses its dominance in the world.
America has had poor leadership for many years. But that can be largely blamed upon the voters who vote dishonest politicians in and keep them in Washington long after they prove their dishonesty and incompetence. Obama and McCain are only saying what they know the American people want to hear. Honesty has little chance in American politics as the society has been dumbed down and voters believe even the most outrageous lies.
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