Reply/Defense

So, about that "dillema", I got something back from my brother-in-law in regards to why he's voting for the dub, and this is how I responded. But first, his reply:


I’ve clearly made up my mind because these candidates are so different…lets see they both say they support the middle class, they both have a plan (both are identical) for Iraq, they both will get tough with terrorists, they both will grow jobs, they both will reach out to the other party, they both support education while controlling taxes, they both have high amounts of integrity despite what has happened in their past, they both will not be swayed by special interest groups, they both will save medicare, social security, and make health care affordable, they both have a plan to stimulate the economy, etc, etc.

I know you see a clear difference in the candidates but to me they are much more similar than different. I just think the issues I mentioned above are very complicated with no black and white choices so it is impossible for them to disagree at any discernable level.

I like Bush because I like conservative supreme court nominations and his record on gun control, taxes and shifting federal budget authority to the state and local level. I also am impressed that there have not been any other terrorist attacks on American soil since 9-11. By being proactive we are fighting a war in Iraq with trained soldiers rather than having thousands of unsuspecting women and children dieing in our back yards.

There is my view but I’m open to consider other perspectives. I would like to hear an argument for why I should vote for Kerry (other than Michael Moore conspiracy theories) and I would consider switching my vote…

And, my response:

Thanx for devoting a few minutes of your time to a crazy "michael moore conspiracy theorist" like me(I know, you never said that, it's just the impression I get; sorry if it's wrong). While I'm sure that much of what I write here will be considered with a grain of salt (or sand, whichever you prefer), I will nonetheless write it anyway. So, here goes:

Where to begin... I do agree with you that Kerry and Bush are very similar in regards to the issues you mentioned, and for that reason, I won't feel great about voting for Kerry. One main issue that sticks out in my mind is the fact that Bush has ruined our reputation around the world. We've gone from mildlly respected in the world community, to damn near hated, by many countries who would have otherwise been strong allies. Yes, Poland's leader supports us, but their public does not, along with the infamous Mr. Blair and the people of Europe. It is a sort of arrogance prompted by the current adminstration that has resulted in this view, i.e., "we'll smoke em' out of their caves", "either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists", "the axis of evil", etc, etc.

Aside from policy decisions, I tend to think that the president serves as sort of an advertisement for the people in this country. Bush has created an atmosphere of fear and hatred by being a "hardliner", giving the impression that the American people will not compromise and will not falter, because we are good, and if you don't believe that, yer a terraist, and were gonna get ya. If you ask me, this isn't the proper way to conduct yourself if you want support from the world community. On that note, I do realize that we shouldn't come off as weak by any means, and I don't see how any world leader could reasonably think that we're a weak nation, regardless of what our president says.

I do believe that the latest polls coming out of D.C. show bush with an 11% approval rating. Maybe this is why he's always retreating to the "other" white house in Texas. Never before have I seen so much protest in regards to Bush's policies. Millions of people before the war, from all corners of the earth, said NO to his agenda. As far as I know these were the largest protests ever recorded in human history. On top of that, a record was set for the number of protestors in NY city during the Repug convention; about a half a million, I believe. I know that this doesn't necessarily entail anything, but it may be an indication that something isn't right.

As far as conservative supreme court nominations go, yes, if bush gets re-elected, conservative judges will be appointed. What I'm concerned with in regards to this is that the balance in congress and the supreme court will further be shifted out of balance in favor of the right. The repugs already have a majority in just about every section of government (read: totalatarianism. k, there's my moore bit) This means more of a push to curtail a woman's right to choose in regards to abortion as well as diminishing the thin line between church and state. Yes, I don't believe that churches should get federal funding, which is the first executive order that bush signed after being appointed as president. Just the fact that Mr. Bush supports A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT to ban gay marriage is enough to make me ill. I know that Kerry believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman, but he nonetheless does not wish to write discrimination into our constitution based on fundamental religious beliefs about "proper" moral and ethical codes.

While I do realize that the "left" will stretch the truth in regards to certain issues to push their agenda, it is hard to imagine that it would be comparable to the outright lies that this administration has been a part of. We are constantly reminded of how the terraists could attack at any moment, constantly told that Saddam was a major threat to national security, while other countries, with real weapons, plot against us. Cheney had the gall to say during last tuesday's debates that he has never suggested a connection between 9/11 and Iraq. While I won't provide adequate sources for this fact, it is an outright LIE. On top of it, while the situation in Iraq has progressed from bad to worse, we are told that everything is getting better there; LIE.
Privatizing social security and reforming the tax code: I should do more research on this issue, but if I understand the basics correctly, everyone would recieve their own personal account, "so that they can have a better handle on their money; less government or whatever, right?" This seems strange, as a person could just as easily start a savings account for themselves that would essentially embody the same concept. I probably don't have the details of this right, but this is the way I'm percieving the proposed privatization. From what I understand about the tax code, it seems that bush would be pushing for a flat tax; you know, to make things easier. While this may be "easier", I wonder who benefits most from this move. Clearly, it would be unfair to lower income families if they are required to pay, say, a 15% tax, while those making over $200,000 a year would end up paying far less in proportion to those who make only $50,000 a year.

Overall, the main reasons one should NOT vote for bush, and instead, for Kerry are (abbreviated list):

Kerry is not bush; he would serve as a fresh start to the obvious messes that bush has been privy to, and would hopefully restore a bit of trust in the American people and its government to the rest of the world, who, as I've stated, don't really like us at this point in history because of our percieved arrogance, thus making us less safe.

Kerry will hopefully retain a sense of tolerance towards differing viewpoints, whereas bush, when confronted with alternatives, get's angry and insists that you agree or be doomed. For christ's sake, people have to sign loyalty oaths just to get into his rallies (see: totalatarianism).
More crap has happened with our country in the last four years, under this president's watch, then we've seen since Nixon, which, of course, I wasn't alive to see, though I hear it was pretty bad.

The way I see it, "terraists" would be delighted to have bush for four more years, I mean, look at how many more people despise us now, compared to four years ago. His administration has fueled anti-american sentiment.
Here's 55 reasons TO vote for THE dub, check it out: http://smirkingchimp.com/print.php?sid=17938
And now for the ad hominem (though not all) remarks meant to pull at your heartstrings, which may or may not succeed in doing so, anyway...:Bush is liked in part because he seems "human" in the sense that he can be pretty horrible with his speech, and he rolls up his sleeves in an attempt to seem like that "corn and potatoes" sorta guy, which to me, translates as, "idiot". Really, I don't think he's an idiot, he's got some of the most powerful corporations and PR agencies on his side. This makes him smart, but nonetheless unable to fend for himself.

1000 US soldiers dead

15,000 Iraqi civilians dead

Euphemistic bullshit like "friendly fire", "shock and awe", "operation Iraqi freedom", and "freedom is on the march" meant to influence the collective public psyche by instilling fear, worry, and false hope; go get some freaking duct tape and have some water stored, just in case.

Is it a conspiracy theory that bush has met with leaders of the taliban to discuss an oil pipeline that would stretch through afghanistan into the caspian sea, and subsequently appointed Mr. Karzai, a former advisor to UNOCAL(see: oil company in charge of the development of this pipeline), as president of the Afghanis, so as to see this through?

Halliburton recieves an 8 billion dollar, no bid contract for reconstruction in Iraq, and just happens to be the company that Mr. Cheney presided over as CEO prior to becoming vice prez.

I am aware of what you value in life, though I don't believe bush has you, or my sister in mind.

Sorry if I've offended you in any way.

Regards