What Change We Can Believe In?
When we (Americans) walk into the poles on November 4th this year, most of us who consider our selves to be progressive, or left of center will vote for Barack Obama. Obama provides “hope” and offers “change”. Before we cast our ballots we must think about what hope and what change Obama really provides. It would be foolish to argue that there is really no difference between Obama and McCain. It is undeniable that if McCain were elected there is a good chance Americans could lose their right to abortions. Up to 3 supreme court justices could retire in the next four years, and it is a safe bet that Obama will not replace them with judges who will overturn Roe v. Wade. It is also true that Obama has never used a racial slur in public, while McCain openly referred to his Vietnamese captors as “gooks”. While Obama does not offer any specific policies to further social issues such as racial and gender equality, at least he is more likely to prevent the loss of past victories. It is also true that Obama is more likely to provide more funding for some basic social programs like welfare and education. While this will do nothing to change the overall system, having this extra funding makes a significant difference in many peoples daily lives. There are even a few things actually progressive about Obama. Obama’s tax plan (tax the rich at a higher rate than the poor through graduated income tax) would make the American tax system more progressive. Finally, electing the first Black man to office IS progress (just as electing the first woman vice president would be).read more »