I guess, I always was an optimist, who use to believe that the people a generally smart enough at least to protect their own interests. Lately, however, I am more and more amazed with consistently wrong choice made by significant number of Americans.
Aren't you tired of the pathetic attempt of media and political campaigns to portrait a presidential or vice presidential candidate as a 'regular guy' or a 'hockey mom'? C'mon guys! Do you really believe that any 'regular guy' can rule this country? What is wrong with you?! We are not electing a 'buddy' to have a beer. We are electing president to rule our country and to represent us in front of the world. Of course, he cannot be a 'regular guy'! We had a 'buddy' president… eight long years. Isn't it enough for you?
The whole world laughed at our choice - election 2000 and 2004. It turns out that it was not a laughing matter for us. For eight years Bush-Cheney and company brought the country to the edge of catastrophe in every aspect. Economically though we are pass this edge already.
Now, at election 2008, the same people are saying 'the change is coming' they are claiming 'we know how to fix thing and we will'. Well, the obvious question that is coming in mind is 'If you knew how to handle things all along, why we have to fix them now?' The answer is more than clear - of course McCain and his republican company have no clue how to deal with the catastrophic situation in which they dragged us on a first place. Of course, it is ridiculous to believe (believe is the right word - nobody is thinking lately) that the guys who messed up everything will fix it. It is also fairly understandable why these guys are talking nonsense and trying to do anything to stay in power - it is good for them. What I don't understand is, why so many people, who actually have to carry the punishment for the stupidity and arrogance of a few selected, continue to support them. There is something fundamentally wrong here. People who are receiving less and less pay for their work, people who have to pay ridiculous amounts for health insurance, people who are loosing their homes and jobs, people who cannot afford dissent education for their kids, people who's kinds are dying in a meaningless war… these people are essentially saying 'we want more of the same'… Wow! Is this some form of mass-masochism? Or, is it a matter of gigantic amount of ignorance? Or, is it simply dangerous irresponsibility on our behalf?
Let us take a close look what happened globally for the last eight years. We lost most of our allies or at least we worsen our relations with them. Bush and company made stronger virtually every single adversary that they named enemy. They dragged us in totally meaningless war in Iraq and they were arrogant enough to claim 'mission accomplished'. What mission? What was the threat that Iraq was posing to United States? Saddam was a bad guy. Nobody can argue that, but he was Mr. Nobody on the global political arena. Should we start a war just because someone is a bad guy or big mouth? Do we really believe that we can 'put on his place' every bad guy in the world? Don't you think that such a thought is rather arrogant and plain stupid? No country has such power, which is not too bad after all.
Every country and every side in war loose! No exceptions! Certain group of people that is starting the war may win big money. However, that has noting to do with the wellbeing of the whole country. The country is loosing in almost all aspects. Loosing money, loosing power, loosing young lives! Young lives that can do way better for this country instead of dying in a meaningless war. More than four thousand of them!
The other night on Larry King Live a republican strategist - Georgette Mosbacher - talking about the lost lives in Iraq replied spontaneously 'They all volunteered. We have volunteer army…' What an ugly thought! What an arrogance! What an atrocity! They did not volunteer to die meaninglessly, lady! They all volunteered to protect our country and that is very different compared to the war in Iraq! The fact that they are volunteers does not give rights to dumb politicians to send them to die for noting.
What we are hearing these days about that? McCain and Palin are yelling 'Surge is working', 'We are winning'… or from 'strategists' like Mosbacher - 'as a proud American, I refuse to accept the fact that we are losers…' Well, lady, unfortunately, when you are talking about facts, your acceptance or denial doesn't change the reality. What is the thing that we are winning? Perhaps, it would be clearer if we all know what win they have in mind. Money? We are loosing every hour incomprehensible amount of it. Power? We are loosing it every single day since we got involved in this war. International status? It is most likely worst than ever. Lives? We are loosing them every day! What is that we are winning? Perhaps, McCain and Palin have in mind that we are loosing fewer lives compared to 6-8 moths ago? Well, yes, but isn't it too cynical to call this wining? All four thousand of them could have been very much alive and productive for the country if they were not sent there in a first place.
Ok, I understand, Iraq is far away, many people don't know were exactly it is even less what is going on there. It is not easy to have clear idea for place and people you have never been in contact with. How about looking a bit closer? Like, at home for example. What about our healthcare? On the previous republican convention Dick Cheney stated 'We have the best healthcare system in the world' and the crowd reward him with applauses. What were ovations for - the best healthcare system for him or for the one of the worst for us? I find difficult to believe that there so many disoriented people.
As the union's leader, Rose Ann DeMoro said, 'there is no health care system in America. There's a health care industry that's major objective is profit-making, which means not providing the patient all of the care that they need…' Is there anybody left who do not understand this? Is this the best healthcare system in the world? If Cheney was served by the same healthcare system that is serving American people he would be most likely dead by now.
McCain is trying to scare us with 'bureaucrats' in the healthcare system. Let us imagine on the same place a businessman whose profit depends on your bad health… Well, we don't have to try very hard to imagine it. We experience that type of healthcare daily. So, what is the new thing in McCain's proposal? Noting. It will be exactly the same. Oh, I forgot… he is planning to 'give every American' a couple hundred dollars to help with health insurance payments. And this is a solution? Even if somehow this money gets to the Americans, they will be lost without a trace in the maze of the current healthcare system. And what is worst, without any positive effect. All this money will create some additional profit to the insurances, which are enjoying immorally large profits even now. The whole healthcare system is wrong and it should be reset correctly. We don't need to look too far in order to see a better system. Take a look at Canada… or Australia if you like… The healthcare system cannot be an industry, it is fundamentally wrong!
The other big nonsense that republicans keep repeating over and over again is the lie about the taxes. Palin is crying 'Obama wants to raise your taxes… he wants to raise taxes for small businesses…' Is there somebody left that still believes in that lie? When I hear to the 'boous' of the brainwashed crowd in response to McCain's and Palin's lies, I wonder how many of these deeply disoriented people are receiving more that 250 thousands a year. How many small businesses owners of small neighborhood stores or shops can afford to pay themselves such salary? Who they are kidding? Most of the small businesses are happy to have 250 thousands a year sales. Their taxable income is way less.
What McCain want to say is that his friends may see increase in their taxes. Perhaps, this is true, but I don't see why regular Jane and Joe should be bothered by this. McCain is not their friend. They don't make that kind of money. So, they are safe with taxes. Bush and company 'saved' the taxes on several millions Americans so far, by simply arranging for them to loose their jobs. No income, no taxes… problem solved. I can easily imagine that McCain, whit his 'deep understanding of economy', can continue to 'save' taxes this way to even more of us.
If there is someone with less than 250 thousands income yearly and who is still for the McCain-Palin ticket, this someone needs to see a psychiatrist. Unfortunately, under current healthcare system it will not be an easy thing to afford.
When we vote, we become volunteers. Be careful guys! Think what we are volunteering for.
