I'm on the swing vote, and not too adament about either right now. I have my tufts with McCain, but this is about Obama. My main concern begins with US senate bill 2433 "The Global Poverty Act". This is a bill sponsored by Obama and co-sponsored by Biden which stretches to redistribute wealth globally. The bill outlines an action to be dictated by the United Nations in reducing those in the global population who sustain on $1 a day. This will be done by contributing .67% of our GDP (~88 billion dollars) a year, and giving the U.N. the power to increase this Global Poverty Tax on the United States. Keep in mind this is in addition to the $122.8 billion (2005) the United States normally hands out annually. This is planned to cancel the debt of the world's 18 poorest nations and increase half of those living on $1 to $2.
This bill sounds remarkably noble until you realize that we are spending $700 per American a year in foreign aid, while people in our own country are starving

Democrats use the "safety net" as their main platform. It is impossible to lower taxes and debt while increasing spending on these programs. It seems that Baracks proposition is to put the increase tax burden on small businesses and upperclass americans even higher. The figure I saw was an increase by 8.5-11%. The tax rates are currently 39% on corporations and 35% on those who earn over 350,000 a year. the average corporate tax rate in industrial nations is 31%. To force money away from some to give to others, is taking away incentives for Americans. Especially if much of the money is being sent to pay to the world bank a debt of 18 other nations (#2433), when we have our own debt!

Multilateralism is a complex issue. Can you really listen to another nations wishes for your nation's actions? You have to do what is right for your country. We see our people sweat and survive, and ultimately only we can decide what is in our best interest. That's why I think giving the U.N. the ability to raise any tax on our nation is crazy.
I agree this war to reform the government of Iraq was and still is absurd. That is not our place in this world. Our founding fathers discuss the importance of neutrality and the promotion of domestic growth.
I think the action of the Bush administration that most people do not want repeated is the stubborness of entering into a war which wasn't supported by many. Bush wants to use force to pressure our sovereignty over any nation that harbors terrorists. His message is that they can't attack us as individual organizaitons then hide away in a nation which will give them amnesty from capture.
Not sure what I would propose to solve this issue, but I know we have wasted a lot of time and resources in this plot to exterminate terrorists from the face of the Earth. It seems to be McCain wants to continue the hunt and Obama would end it at Afghanistan. Obama's plan leaves Iraq destabilized and McCain's plan could leave the US destabilized if he continues to Iran. Pursuing those responsible for 9/11 has gotten us into a real mess, but should we have ignored it?

My point is that it seems to me that Obama IS throwing money at problems and putting the burden on the demonized corporations. Corporations which make most of our luxuries in American life possible. I know we have a high state tax on businesses in Ohio compared to other states (top4 worst) which has stifled our state's growth, and I fear the will happen in our country if we proceed with the tax increases.
McCain holds the conservative values that Bush does. Hopefully his solutions are the change. I definately like his education plan which uses vouchers from students to decide school funding. Instead of Bushs NCLB act which uses a test and slow beaurocrats to eventually decide to increase funding in a school that is wasting the time of our youth. I'm not sure of Obama's plan since he's only said he will improve the assessments that track student progress. Obama also plans to double funding for afterschool programs which sounds great...

As for those who claim McCain uses the same campaign tactics as Bush... Unfortunately I think all politicians use same old party hacks. I don't know any campaign since the smears coordinated by Lee Atwater with Bush #1 twenty years ago (obviously read, not experienced). From Swiftboats to McCain agreeing with Bush (90% of the time). I don't know if many realize this, but a "10%" difference in policies can be vast. The fact is, McCain has clashed with Bush ever since W entered the national arena. He attacked the Swift Boat Vet campaign and made a large part of washington his enemies trying to separate the influence of money from politics. He definately opposed Bush on the huge increase of military funding that was "needed" for Iraq (which spawned veterans against McCain). And of course we have all seen the Republican smears on Obama with the "lipstick pig" remark and the "irrelevance" of community organizing experience.
But ofcourse we know why they use these tactics... Experience shows that they work. The filthy real world.

My goal of writing here is to urge people to look beyond the hype of their parties candidate. Try following facts, histories, and your own judgement. Don't just read articles in one source for your inspiration because more often than not, the article is written with bias. Especially don't listen to soundbites and commentaries mainly for your judgements. Try to follow speeches and maybe stay skeptical until the debates. We have a very important election coming up. And regardless of which party line you stand on with guns, abortion, etc... there are much more important issues at hand. Oil dependency is killing our economy, America is losing her ability to compete in the world market, and our education scores are some of the lowest for an industrialized nation. Who will be the most qualified to address these issues? Hopefully we'll know more about solutions when the debates begin on 9/26. Don't waste your vote, tune in.

i'm guna read all the other points later but the first one:

you could say the same thing, with the war in Iraq, 10 billion a month, around 460 billion in president's first term
and it would also help if we cut down on all the billions of dollars we send to other countries, for no reason at all
plus i thought the US was all for solving everyone's problem? or is it only the mess we create, that we like solving?
-in that case, we've got a LOT of work to do.

I dunno, McCain lobbied to lower the defense budget which was one spot he clashed with bush and veterans. I agree though rooster, considering his families history and his personality, it seems as though he would want to boost military funding.

Gladiator, I definately don't agree with the money thrown into Iraq. People argue that it is working for the war, but I argue that it is bad for our country! Especially for the long run. Bush's policy is to police other nations and exercise our sovereignty over nations which harbor terrorists or take part in  human rights violations. A noble thought, but we see where it has gotten us. I hardly see "we did this wrong so whats the big deal" as a valid argument.

"Gladiator, I definately don't agree with the money thrown into Iraq. People argue that it is working for the war, but I argue that it is bad for our country! Especially for the long run. Bush's policy is to police other nations and exercise our sovereignty over nations which harbor terrorists or take part in  human rights violations. A noble thought, but we see where it has gotten us. I hardly see "we did this wrong so whats the big deal" as a valid argument."

EXACTLY. I AGREE 100%!!!
ABSOLUTELY!! that is exactly why i support obama, fix ourselves first before we even think we can fix other nations..

That is great logic

what pun?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta_SFvgbrlY&NR=1

doesn't that sound remarkably up t' date

I weren't showin' that t' support Obama.  Just that th' situation appears t' be similar.  This afternoon on CNN they aired a river interview in Ohio ( I think?) with a wench who said when CLinton were bein' in office she always had a little extra dubloons an' scallywags did their own thin'.  Guess scallywags want that feelin' back.

wtf, pirate talk killed me post