The Issues Are Enough To Achieve Change

Last evening while watching the Democratic convention I became inspired to write a piece outlining my strong support for the Obama/Biden ticket this November. In doing so it's necessary to explain the reasons for my support. It's hard to find a specific issue to focus on with the uncountable detriments the Bush administration has inflicted on our nation -- all with the support of Senator McCain. However, the war in Iraq, tax cuts for the rich, job loss, and lack affordable health care for millions of Americans are good starting points.

John McCain has made it clear that he has no intention of ever withdrawing our troops from Iraq. If elected President, Senator McCain will keep our troops there indefinitely being attacked by an unidentifiable enemy. The Iraqis want a definitive time line for the withdrawal of our troops. Our troops and the American people want the same. Therefore, John McCain's position of "conditions on the ground will dictate" our departure from Iraq are irrelevant. How can he ignore the wishes of the Iraqi people, their government, and the vast majority of Americans? I think he answered that question himself numerous times by saying "I would rather lose an election than lose a war." Unfortunately for him he is on his way to losing it all. In addition, this endless war and occupation supported by Senator McCain has decimated our military manpower and capability. Thanks to this foreign policy fiasco (Iraq) our military is ill equipped to defend our nation should another crisis emerge -- so much for voting for John McCain on the issue of national security.

How do we as a nation continue a war in Iraq that costs over 10 billion dollars per month without raising taxes? We continue to spend money we don't have while borrowing money from nations we consider our adversaries. For example, China lends us money for the war in Iraq and to buy Arab oil. The Chinese are happy to lend us the money because they realize the obvious --as we get weaker they get stronger both economically and militarily. For the Chinese it's a marathon not a sprint. They know that if America stays on the current path they will eventually become the world's largest super power -- reducing our leverage and influence internationally.

Senator McCain's attack ads unfairly accuse Senator Obama of wanting to raise taxes on the middle class. Whoever is advising John McCain to run these negative ads doesn't have the sense God gave a flea. After 8 years of providing no tax relief to the middle class while giving tax breaks to those who don't need it the "straight talk express" clearly went off course. After all, Senator McCain (the Maverick) voted against the Bush tax cuts before he decided his intentions to make them permanent if elected President. These very tax cuts have significantly contributed to our national debt and crippled economy.

Most American manufacturing jobs have shipped overseas where foreigners will work for a third of our minimum wage. The profits still come home to the owners of the companies who receive large tax cuts due to their sizable incomes while they exploit cheap labor. Good times for them, but not-so-good times for the unlucky folks who worked those same manufacturing jobs for 15+ years before being disposed of leaving their families struggling with no livelihoods.

When right-wing politicians speak of the potential disaster of universal health care or any other health care plan put forth by the Democrats I struggle to understand their logic. How can these people advocate against our government helping American citizens in need? I'm pretty sure those same politicians receive their health care from our government. Oh yeah, Senator McCain took a page out of George W. Bush's book by pandering to that impressive crowd consisting of "the haves and have mores." News flash for McCain -- the "have mores" are not the majority.

For my conservative friends on the right who fear an Obama presidency, they have their selves to thank. They voted to empower George W. Bush -- the most incompetent president in American history. This man lied us into a tragic war, manipulated the Constitution to his liking, shunned the advice of our allies in the world community, rewarded his rich friends at the expense of the poor, and laughed about it. As a result our nation is seeking a total 360 degree change from the likes of President Bush and that is Barack Obama. With the help of Joe Biden and the American people I'm very confident we'll get that change.

Comments

[dogman44]

Dear John,
Like you I am opposed to this senseless war. I am taxed to finance it and have not seen a dime in
return. Instead of investing in equpment for the soldiers, the money could be invested in the Iraqi
stockmarket and all tax payers would share in it. Dividends would be determined by the amount
of taxes paid.
We should all take responciblity for our actions. I had nothing to do with the Iraq war! Why should
I pay for it! By spending tax money on the individual soldier's equipment I am being forced to pay for
another persons choice, and they are denied the choice of spending their money as they see fit.
Some soldiers might want a fancier bulletproof vest than others. But a married guy should have the
choice of buying a cheapo vest and sending the hard earned money he saved back to his wife.
It would also teach the soldiers personal responsibility. If they had to pay for their own equipment
they might take better care of it and not be so prone to get it shot up and exploded! Also some people
like better weapons than others. These are free choices that are being denighed our gallant fighting
people! Allow them to buy their own equipment!!!!

44namgod

liberal rightwing libertarian

[djarvis]

Excellent blog. You have echoed my sentiments for this whole campaign season.

OBAMA/BIDEN '08!

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

djarvis,

Thank you for your comment. I'm grateful for you taking the time to respond.

V/R
John

[itmaybetoolate]

John,

I think your point about our military is particularly important. No one talks about this, but it is a very serious and distressing consequence of the Iraq fiasco!! How do we get more people to pay attention to this threat? If more people understood what bush and mcbush have done to our military, they might be less willing to listen to mcbush and his empty rhetoric.

Thanks for you work. I really look forward to your postings!

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

itmaybetoolate,

Great to hear from you again. Sadly, the only way to "REALLY" reach the American people is a call to military service. Many want war, or a so called "victory" , yet most don't want to put their own bodies on the line. A national call to service and higher taxes would send most war supporters over the edge. I don't agree with a draft because it would be a repeat of the 60's and 70's when the poor kids were drafted and the Bush/Cheney types found ways out. But if the American people were forced to "chip in" instead of spewing their convenient rhetoric, things would be different.

Thanks for reading and replying.

Your friend,
John

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Says it all, JB, thank you. While 180 degrees (the 'opposite' direction of the preznutz) might really be the heading you desire, your logic and reasons for anything but more of the mc-same-ol' shnitz are as sound and justified as it gets. The thoughtless spending of even one more of our troop's lives for this fabricated Gulf of Oman-Tonkin war is simple insanity. When the Iraqi's have made it clear that they not only no longer want us there, but because of the destruction of their country and too many of it's people, will likely NEVER tell us 'thank you' for coming, it's way past time to end that insanity, and call the stupidity of the idiots wishing to perpetuate it - un-American. It's also time for Washington to face the TRUTH that permanent bases against the will of Iraq and a forced colonizati­on/occupat­ion there is just continuing a crime that should never have occurred to begin with.

Perhaps OUR country's voters are beginning to see through the main-stream media's greed generated poll results and so will 'put their foot down' on a great many ballots. WE must shun the idea that fear justifies or can ever again lead OUR country so far astray of its inherent greatness, and a Constitutional 'Rule of Law'..

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

NoFactsJustTruth,

Thank you for the insightful reply. Always good to hear your opinion. I wrote this post Monday night and submitted it to HP , HP published it yesterday afternoon before Mark Warner spoke and before Hillary spoke. What I like about it is that both Mark Warner and Hillary Clinton spoke about China, us borrowing money from them to finance the wars and buy oil -- good validation.

You said it perfectly here:

"The thoughtless spending of even one more of our troop's lives for this fabricated Gulf of Oman-Tonkin war is simple insanity."

V/R
John

[deminmo]

No Republican has ever answered my one question,
how do you plan to pay for this? Something tells me it
will involve losing some social programs, not raising
taxes on the richest people.
I just worry about what could happen before the election,
since Bush and Chaney are still in the White House.

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

deminmo,

Here is a good answer to your questions that the Republicans won't give you:

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20080721_IRAQ__THE_REAL_COST_OF_STAYING_THE_COURSE.html

V/R
John