Elections: The Countdown

Twenty-four hours from now it will pretty much be over. All the hubbub will be meaningless and, for better of for worse, we will be stuck with someone for another four years. Most everyone has made their decisions, so this might be more for me than you, but it is important that I at least express my thoughts on this election.

I recently came across the election-related thoughts of a person who I admire in many ways, but with whom I disagree strongly about politics (Now that I think about it, many of my family members and close friends see politics very differently from me. Moving on...). He outlined his logic for supporting McCain/Palin in a message that relied only on the potential dangers that Obama poses for the future of America, while acknowledging the almost-inexcusable deficiencies of the Republican ticket.

We need to stand up for our politics and express what we want, not belittle a political opponent and call it voting logic. I am uncomfortable defining myself only by what I am against. Granted no candidate is perfect, and each will have his flaws, but if we focus on what America needs we may find someone who will get us going in the right direction.

I want a president that considers the following:

• The financial markets need to correct their root flaws (I believe both candidates will be similar in this respect)
  
• Health care that gets its moneys' worth (America gets the worst return on its health care dollar of all industrialized countries - increasing the pool size decreases the per-person cost)
• Health care that helps everyone (try living without health insurance for a year and you may see why I think this is important)
  
• Respecting world opinion (Believe it or not, American politics affects everyone in the world, and it is wrong for government to act like it doesn't)
• People from every country have the same value (the loss of an American or a Canadian is no worse than the loss of an Iraqi or a Sudanese person)
  
• Pursuing moral high ground (Iraq? Rendition? Guantanimo? Not for me, thank you.)
• Ever-increasing disparity is not a good thing.

Like I said, you already have your opinions. Whatever they are I hope you get to vote because I won't be able to. Don't take that for granted.