Journal of an Undecided Voter Vol. Two

The Democratic Convention is well underway, and no I’m not watching it. Party politics disgust me, rhetoric is nauseating and analysts make me want to shoot the TV. I watch politicians enough to get a feel of their character from body language and unscripted exchanges. Beyond that, they might as well have a bubble above their heads saying – blah, blah, blah.

I’ve been reading some strong comments in condemnation or defense of both candidates. Sways me this way and that, but still no decision.

As to what I wrote about the names, just a little quirk in a Dr Who kind of way. Bad Wolf and all. A name won’t influence my vote in any way. Being a POW does add to the pot. Who better to know the horrors of war than one who’s been there? But it’s just a piece.

Now as to the prevalent Democratic battle cry that McCain would be four more years of Bush. I’m not sold that is the truth. I’ve never seen McCain as the same kind of candidate as George W. other than they are both Republicans. What’s he supposed to say - yeah Bush sucks? That’s not how party politics work. He’s not going to bash the outgoing party man any more than Al Gore was going to say – yeah Clinton’s a skirt chasing whoremonger but I’ll bring dignity back to the Oval Office. The incumbent party candidate’s tongue is tied when it comes to addressing the last four or eight years. Another reason I wish we’d do away with parties all together.

What I do like about this election is the involvement of the populous. Something some people want to attribute to Obama. Horse hockey. There’s a generation out there who has decided to take things into their own hands and that greatly encourages me. They turned out last election because they didn’t like the way things were going. Democracy in action. For when all is said and done, politicians are supposed to be working for us. When millions of voters start caring and paying attention to what’s going on, things change.

So, I am still concerned Obama’s not experienced enough and will try and give the sun moon and stars with no way to pay for it. I am concerned McCain is too old, too entrenched in Republican politics and too dug into Iraq.

Iraq, my feelings…. I want the hell out. Here’s what has bothered me from the start. Everyone knew our reasons for going in were false. The position Bush put Colin Powell in is inexcusable. My belief is this was more of a continuation of a family vendetta than national defense. George Sr. didn’t get Sadam so George W. finished the job. Was he a despot? Or course, but I don’t see us rushing into African nations where people are oppressed and starving to death. But, then, they don’t have oil.

The other thing that has bothered me is the mentality of the region. I don’t believe they want peace. If peace isn’t wanted, all the peacekeepers in the world won’t bring it.

But, there are the economics. We do need oil. We are hooked like an addict on heroin. What if we had changed our ways back in the 70’s when oil prices skyrocketed? Instead we went from Gremlins to Hummers. Stupid, lazy, gluttonous Americans that we are. So here we are. What if we hadn’t been pouring billions of dollars into the region purchasing oil for the last thirty years? Would we even have the terrorist issues? Would they have the funding? Would they have an incentive?

My feelings are we can’t get independent from that region fast enough. If we don’t need them, aren’t in their homelands, aren’t pouring billions of dollars in…. What would foreign policy look like? Oil has dictated our foreign policy for far too long.

I want to be independent from foreign oil. I want to be independent from the world. I want to know we could close our borders and take care of ourselves. I do believe it is time we spent more time looking inward.