Voting for Truth

In a recent issue of the New Yorker is a short compilation of cartoons, one of which, I believe, says it best for November 4th: the sign on the road points one way to victory. The other way is truth.

Whether it be victory over the Iraqis or "terrorism" or the recession or all of those un-American parts of the US, voters will hopefully set aside the need for any clear-cut victory against some of the windmills we currently tilt at and vote on Tuesday for the truth. We need it and we need it now. With the bark on, as we used to say in Boy Scout camp.

McCain was once a fairly decent choice for his party. That is no longer the case. Obama is certainly young and we face remarkably tough times. But he is smart and decent and has seemingly limitless energy. We will need all three of those things in order to move forward, wherever we are going.

Three things to do.

Now that gas is cheaper, don't let Detroit off the hook. If a major automaker goes under, that would be awful. But we must face that. Buy a hybrid car or at least a very fuel efficient car if you are in the market for a new automobile.

Don't equate higher taxes with "socialism." Bush and the Congress are giving $750 billion of your money to banks and insurance companies and God knows who. It's never socialism when it props up the rich and the Dow. Schools, roads, our health and our children's minds must be worked on. That costs money. Perhaps a new administration will spend that money more efficiently and more wisely. But the Bush tax cuts must end. Taxes must go up, even slightly, to restore this country on its proper place again. And that does not mean taxes on the middle class!

Vote for Barack Obama. In war, he will effectively lead us. But, as importantly, it is Obama who will lead us to peace better than the Republicans. Peace. Something you never hear the GOP talk about anymore.

Comments

[Nease]

Alec, Let me know if Stephen needs help packing. I'm sure volunteers would like to add to their

[Nease]

Let me know if Stephen needs help packing.

[tyla]

GOD BLESS AMERICA .....& ....GOD BLESS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.

[Rachel36]

Nothing would give me more pleasure than to give "hope" a chance. When it comes to the Truth I don"t know what"s real anymore. If I vote for Obama will I condemn him to a political life of insurrection? Will the peasants come running with pitch forks and torches at the first sign of trouble? Is there a noose and tree limb in his future? Will there be blood on the roots and blood in the streets if he falls short of our heady expectations?

We"re looking to him to be the salve that will begin the healing on a dying corps known as the United States of America. An impossible task for one man and may be even for one nation. History is never how we intended it to be nor is the making of it.

[flatus]

We should take this Democratic opportunity to pump education dollars into the rural south and midwest (for obvious reasons).

[carrieanna]

*listens to john lennon's 'imagine'*

[rektruax]

why?

[Cowboylove]

The GOP does not talk about peace or Prosperity for the middle class. Our Public Schools are a disgrace, our bridges, dams and levees are collapsing, we torture people, we start unnecessary wars. Our President lies to us, routinely, about important issues of national security. We do not respond to natural disasters in our own country.

It is baffling to me that anyone who watched Katrina could vote for Republicans. McCain criticizes Bush for his lack of response, but fails to remind us, Bush did not respond to Katrina because he was attending a party at the McCain's. At a party, while the world watched in horror. McCain is just as guilty.

McCain Plain offer nothing but more lies and more wealth transfers to the wealthiest Americans. McCain offers more wars, more disgrace, more torture. I just cannot deal with another four years of a Republican administration. God help us if McCain wins.

[CubanVoice]

Right on, as usual.

Give peace a chance!

[SarahJean]

Very well said, I totally agree with this post.

[dessertsfirst]

Thank you, Alec for reminding us that peace is possible!
What a great word: PEACE.....

[hector74elp]

Another great article and agree wholeheartedly.

In regards to fuel efficient cars, someone posted that hybrids are too costly and for someone like Mr. Baldwin who can easily afford it, most people could not. I would like to reply to that but a disclaimer first. I read this article earlier in the day and lost the person who posted that comment. I would have replied directly but couldn"t. And also having been a very long day for me, maybe I read it wrong. Just incase I didn"t.

My comment is that we should not let the automakers off the hook as Mr. Baldwin suggested. They have simply always disregarded fuel efficiency and it is time that is in the foreground and us as consumers has to make it so. Consider this, Ford Model T when it came out almost 70 years ago had 13 mpg and take Ford"s Excursion or Expedition or what ever that huge SUV is called has the same gas mileage. It should be an outrage. Carmakers will make electric seats, bigger cup holders and have the freakin internet in a car but have always refused to make a vehicle with better gas mileage. It is an outrage, these engineers should be working on a 100 mpg vehicle and we should not expect less.

[LeftRight]

Actually, the Model T was over 20, and pretty close to 30 MPG back in the 20s

[aleance]

Well done!!!

[jpnairn]

Two sides.
Lies. Truth.
Division. Unity.
Fear. Hope.
Continuing failure. Change.
McCain. Obama.

[Oregon Ivy]

Now, if only you could smack some sense into that brother of yours. ;)

[Hobratsch]

I'm hoping that an Obama administration would bring us closer to a society along the lines of what Canada or France has -- one in which the taxpayers/government provide health care for everyone and one in which a university education is subsidized for those that are admitted into universities.

From reading your posts, I can see that you have a lot of good ideas. I'm hoping that one day you would run for some sort of political office.