Some of my very dear Canadian blogging friends have been watching the campaign very closely and are starting to voice their opinions and opening up their blogs for debate. One such blogger is my dear friend Leslie. For the past two days now Leslie had been posting her opinions on the candidates and which one she is favouring. It has been a great debate. I love reading learning about both sides, and how one individual can interpret the same thing so differently. Fascinating.
Today over at Leslie's blog the discussion continues about the candidates. Being who I am I just couldn't sit silent. I had to make a comment and a long comment it was....Sorry Leslie....here is what I had to say.....
".....After reading your post the first two things that came to my mind were senility and pompous.....
I have to be honest....I don't like either candidate...and I am sorry that is all they have to vote for.
I have said time and again, that I was and still am astounded at the multi millions of dollars that have been spent on this campaign. I look at how long we had to put up with the Hilary and Obama road shows...to me it was and is absolute silliness....monies that could have and should have been put back into programs or creating jobs....it's shameful.
Pompous...that is how I see Obama...I really don't like the oh poor me card nor do I like how (and I know I might get in trouble for this)... he plays the Black American act and hopes to get votes based on his race...that's just wrong....show me what you can do....show me how you are going to change things....get those jobs back....get the economy moving again...and then maybe just maybe I might have some faith in what you say.
Senility "senility , deterioration of body and mind associated with old age"...."The mental changes associated with senility include impairment of judgment, loss of memory, and sometimes childish behavior." Sorry but that is how I see McCain. Not for the life of me could I see this man running a country....again in my humble opinion he doesn't have what it takes...he would be far to dependent on his staff to "help" direct him....and although I can appreciate that this has been the case for all presidents...it's just that I don't see this man being able to make a decision on his own nor with the direction by his staff I also feel he could be to easily swayed by his staff....I have watched him in action....I wouldn't trust him to walk across the room with a glass of water without spilling it....never mind trying to run a country.
There is to much at risk to even entertain him as president. But again...what are their choices....
Jobs need to brought back to the American people and stop selling them off to foreign lands....health care programs need to be established so people don't lose their homes because they have had the misfortune of having a chronic disease....the children of the future need to be given a chance. They need and deserve a good education, with appropriate class sizes and resources given to the teachers to help make our children flourish.
Like you Leslie, I went back to school after my second daughter was born to become an RN...I paid my own way through school...I didn't get any government support....and like you I worked during school down time. No trips to Florida or sunny get a ways.....however with that being said...I did put monies aside in RESP's for my girls....just to help them get started...it is then up to them to make their choices.....and they know that....
However with that being said...sometimes people just need a little help to get started...a little financial support to get their foot in the door...I don't think there is anything wrong with that....everyone wins in programs like that...we help Susie or Johnny get their education...they then get employment in their field and they start paying into the system...and so the cycle goes.
I am not sure why it has to be every man or woman for themselves...is there no room for a collective we? Don't we all benefit when we have a healthy economy? There are many components that make up healthy communities and with the fall out of a healthy community you have a healthy economy.
In healthcare we call that Prevention. If we put money into prevention...we save dollars in the long run. How you might ask...diabetes for example...if we put money in to education on diabetes the millions of dollars that are saved on hospital visits and surgeries is amazing...teaching a diabetic the right foods to eat helps keep their blood sugars under control...no hypo or hyperglycemia...hence no emergency room visits and hence dollars saved.
That is just one of many many examples of where as a society if we put money into prevention...whether it be healthcare, education, social programs, environment,job market...we create a healthier environment.
So back to Obama and McCain...pompous or senile....hmmmm
I'm glad I don't have to vote in this one...but I will be watching."
Leslie's blog and join in on the debate.
I have to be honest....I don't like either candidate...and I am sorry that is all they have to vote for.
I have said time and again, that I was and still am astounded at the multi millions of dollars that have been spent on this campaign. I look at how long we had to put up with the Hilary and Obama road shows...to me it was and is absolute silliness....monies that could have and should have been put back into programs or creating jobs....it's shameful.
Pompous...that is how I see Obama...I really don't like the oh poor me card nor do I like how (and I know I might get in trouble for this)... he plays the Black American act and hopes to get votes based on his race...that's just wrong....show me what you can do....show me how you are going to change things....get those jobs back....get the economy moving again...and then maybe just maybe I might have some faith in what you say.
Senility "senility , deterioration of body and mind associated with old age"...."The mental changes associated with senility include impairment of judgment, loss of memory, and sometimes childish behavior." Sorry but that is how I see McCain. Not for the life of me could I see this man running a country....again in my humble opinion he doesn't have what it takes...he would be far to dependent on his staff to "help" direct him....and although I can appreciate that this has been the case for all presidents...it's just that I don't see this man being able to make a decision on his own nor with the direction by his staff I also feel he could be to easily swayed by his staff....I have watched him in action....I wouldn't trust him to walk across the room with a glass of water without spilling it....never mind trying to run a country.
There is to much at risk to even entertain him as president. But again...what are their choices....
Jobs need to brought back to the American people and stop selling them off to foreign lands....health care programs need to be established so people don't lose their homes because they have had the misfortune of having a chronic disease....the children of the future need to be given a chance. They need and deserve a good education, with appropriate class sizes and resources given to the teachers to help make our children flourish.
Like you Leslie, I went back to school after my second daughter was born to become an RN...I paid my own way through school...I didn't get any government support....and like you I worked during school down time. No trips to Florida or sunny get a ways.....however with that being said...I did put monies aside in RESP's for my girls....just to help them get started...it is then up to them to make their choices.....and they know that....
However with that being said...sometimes people just need a little help to get started...a little financial support to get their foot in the door...I don't think there is anything wrong with that....everyone wins in programs like that...we help Susie or Johnny get their education...they then get employment in their field and they start paying into the system...and so the cycle goes.
I am not sure why it has to be every man or woman for themselves...is there no room for a collective we? Don't we all benefit when we have a healthy economy? There are many components that make up healthy communities and with the fall out of a healthy community you have a healthy economy.
In healthcare we call that Prevention. If we put money into prevention...we save dollars in the long run. How you might ask...diabetes for example...if we put money in to education on diabetes the millions of dollars that are saved on hospital visits and surgeries is amazing...teaching a diabetic the right foods to eat helps keep their blood sugars under control...no hypo or hyperglycemia...hence no emergency room visits and hence dollars saved.
That is just one of many many examples of where as a society if we put money into prevention...whether it be healthcare, education, social programs, environment,job market...we create a healthier environment.
So back to Obama and McCain...pompous or senile....hmmmm
I'm glad I don't have to vote in this one...but I will be watching."
I would encourage any of you who are interested or concerned about this very important election that you get informed.....check out
14 comments:
Just two comments, my stepson in California says he is afraid to say he is voting republican without being accused of being racist (he's not). It's the redistribution of wealth that has him spooked. He says he works 16 hour days to make his money and doesn't mind paying fair taxes but why should he give money to the guy who works 8 hours and then goes home and guzzles beer in front of the big 56 "tv while he's still working (his words, not mine). Obama sounds like a preacher to me and hasn't said much of substance other than he'd can NAFTA. That should be interesting since our Prime Minister is quite willing to discuss the oil and gas component. Oh yes, sorry one more thing. My cousin who is a banker in Chicago says it's really only about 4% of the people who are defaulting on mortgages and they are the ones who irresponsibly remortgaged and didn't read their documents to know that variable rate mortgages do come up for renewal! Me, I have nothing to say about how anyone votes (not my country) and they'll still be min friends but I think you know by now that I run on the conservative side. Still giving people a hand up is a good thing as long as they don't take advantage (like here)...ciao and sorry it's more than 2 (I lied) LOL
rositta...I think those are great comments.
I too work extended shifts...that is the nature of my job...so it is kinda of hard to say that a person working 16 hours is working harder than someone who works 8hrs....it's apples and oranges...and if the person chooses to spend their money on beer and a 52" TV then so be it....that person working 8hrs is still paying taxes...and is still contributing to the econonmics of the community...albeit maybe not the way you and I might ...I'm not sure how your stepson figures he's giving anyone anything just because he is working 16hrs and another is working 8....taxes are taxes....everyone pays....your stepson might be able to afford a vacation or a nice vehicle....that is how he chooses to spend his money.....he isn't giving a hand out to anyone....
And again...that is my point...why is it that social programs and assistance is seen as hand outs....and seen in such a negative light? I guess it's in all our philosophies and what we value.
I was reading in a parent magazine today about the state of Child Care services in our country it showed that Canada only puts 0.25% of the GDP towards childcare..where in Sweden for example they put 1.7% of their GDP towards childcare....and the more children they have in daycare the less they pay....the average cost per month is between $56 - $144 and $56 is when there are 3 children in care. In Canada we pay up to $1600/month for childcare for one child! I know Sweden pays much higher taxes than Canada but it is how they choose to spend their taxes dollars that counts. It's their philosophy about family and supporting families....seems like a healthy thing to do. Healthy families healthy communities, healthy country....hmmmm novel idea don't you think.
I am voting for Obama. The issues are the economy and health care for me. And Obama has a better plan.
I am voting for Obama. I am in favor of universal health care. I am in favor of closing tax loopholes which in many cases mean the wealthiest people in my country pay virtually no taxes. I'm not saying it's always the case but the tax code is so complex that people are not taxed at the rate on the books. People that are able to work the system don't pay their fair share and I'm glad that Obama wants to deal with that.
I am concerned about McCain's VP pick. I always liked him, apart from my being a democrat. I thought he was pretty independent minded but I felt like he picked Palin to appease the ultra conservatives in his party that don't particularly like him. I felt like it was a cynical VP pick.
However, no matter who McCain picked for VP, I would be voting for Obama. I think he's quite moderate. Frankly far more moderate than I am since I lean pretty far to the left. I don't think he is trying to redistribute the wealth. There have been jokes about Republicans being in favor of corporate welfare where Democrats are in favor of welfare for the impoverished.
I think that's a joke and simplistic but I do think the division in the wealth in my country has increasingly been moving to the top five percent. This has been going on since the 1980s or that's how I see it.
I don't think the problems in my country can be blamed on one or the other political party. However, I think we will be better off with an Obama presidency than a McCain presidency.
So that's my long winded two cents worth.
Well I didn't want to vote for either one. But vote I did, and so did my husband. Here in Ohio we have been having early voting that we took advantage of.
I am 56 yrs old and have voted in very election since I have been old enough to do so. This was the hardest for me ever. I really don't care for either of them. But, I voted for one just to cast a vote against the other.
I feel we are doomed with whichever one of these clowns win on Tues.
I'm glad I didn't have to vote too...
words words words, that's all they can do right now, isn't it? is competition of who could win the hearts of the audience simply through the combinations of the alphabets, isn't it?
no one truly knows if they would really do what they say, till they are on the hot chair... so its about charisma, powerful speeches and lots of luck displayed...
I've been an Obama supporter from before he even began his campaign. He is everything I want in a leader.
I despise McCain - and I didn't back in 2000. I might have even voted for him back then. And I don't think his age is his problem. I think he has sold his soul to the far right of his party. I think he felt that would get him the Presidency. And then he puts us all in even more danger by having that crazy, hateful, ignorant woman as his VP.
If McCain looks like he is faltering at times I feel it may be his conscience haunting him. He knows he is not putting 'country first'
As for Obama being pompous - I actually think he is quite humble. Confident - yes. Calm - yes. But in no way pompous. Just as being strong and assertive earned Hilary names like 'bitchy' and 'masculine' and 'hard' Obama gets accused of traits that would be celebrated in the form of a white man. I think far too many people are not accustomed to seeing women and non white men in positions of extreme power and so they react negatively.
Racism is far more than just outward behavior. It is learned reactions and collective bias.
I am holding my breath until next Wednesday morning. I so want my country back.
Thank you for a wonderful post.
You know, I never thought Canadians would be concerned about American politics. I stand corrected.
What is RESP?
We vote by mail here, I turned in my vote last week, for Obama. I see America as a failing country and the next president, no matter who it is, can fix this mess.
Of course as America fails, it's going to hurt Canada and much of the rest of the world also. The last great depression started here and it hurt much of the world.
Stock markets will always be the source of great depressions in the future also, being as it seems that there isn’t going to be anything done to correct that. If I ran this planet it would damn sure be corrected.
Wise Canadians should be doing what wise Americans are doing, getting ready for hard times. I've done the best I can to weather the storm.
WHY AMERICA WILL FAIL
I can't comment on the election except to say it seems to have been going on forever. :(
I hope whoever gets in will turn things around though. :)
debo blue....to answer your question....a RESP is Registered Education Saving Plan. What my ex husband and I did from the time our girls were born was to put the baby bounce cheques we used to get from the government(which wasn't much) into the bank every month...the federal government then matched our contribution....it was and has been a great little start for my childrens post secondary education. The rest is up to them.
Glad to see you involved in this debate, Mary Ann, and that others are coming out to comment. This is what's needed - open discussion with no one fearful of being put down for the reasons of their choice.
Since I've been able to vote, I've always had to select the candidate that was the lesser of two evils. Sad but true. Up until now that was kind of easy. This is the very first time in my voting career that I WANT to make a conscious decision NOT to vote for either candidate; but in doing so I'd be "unAmerican." Now THAT my friend, is quite a dilemna!
They both are idiots.... they are not the only game in town... there are others on the ballot, just not plastering millions of ads all over TV. I'm not voting for either one of those guys!
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