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Name: Greg
Gender: Male
Interests: My two Greatest loves in life are Jesus my Lord and Savior and Stephanie (friend_of_issac), my gorgeous babe-wife. I also enjoy science fiction novels, comics, rock music, video games and have recently gotten into academic Bible study.
Expertise: I Graduated from Texas A&M University in 2004 with a degree in Civil Engineering specializing in Transportation. I am currently working at a Civil Engineering Firm
Message: message me
Member Since:
4/23/2004
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| Why Greg Voted Demorcrat
Even as I type the above title, I am still asking myself that question. I was raised by conservatives in a Southern Baptist church. I voted for GWB twice and am glad I did, I was sad when Clinton was elected both times. How did I choose a man with the most liberal voting record in the senate over a man who I have wanted to be president since I was 18 years old (No joke, I was sad when Bush won the 2000 Republican nomination).
Before I go on, I will say that I was incredibly torn through the campaign. This weekend I listened to every presidential debate. Something I've never done before. It was a very difficult decision for me, and I am still unsure if I made the right one.
Also, this post is incendiary. I don't want any members of my family or friends to think that I look down on or dislike them based on their views / vote. I really don't. You are entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to mine. I simply share.
The bottom line is I voted Democrat more as a vote against the Republican party than as a vote for Democrats. I understand that there is a huge risk that Obama may not keep his moderate stance he has portrayed during his campaign. But the Republicans have done some things that I disagree with a lot, and I wanted to vote against them.
I am tired of Republicans using morals that they do not hold to gain votes.
Since Roe V Wade in 1973 there have been 2 Democratic presidents in office (12 years) and 5 Republicans (24 years) and nothing has been accomplished. Call me cynical, but I don't think it is realistic to think that abortion will ever end in this country on a legal level. I don't think the decision will be overturned, ever, and therefore I don't think it should be our goal as Christians.
I do not support Roe V Wade, I think it is tragic that it ever became law. As a man with a 9 month pregnant wife, I think it is absolutely sick that she could decide to terminate the pregnancy. Kill our son. I firmly believe our son is a human, and that aborting him at any stage along the way is nothing short of murder. However, I don't think the law is going away.
But I also believe we have put our confidence in evil politicians. Instead of abortion being something Republicans are actively fighting against, it is something Republicans use to twist the consciences of voters, making them feel a moral obligation to vote Republican, and by doing so giving Republicans the ability to push the issues that they really care about and do actively push. Republican voters base their vote on a candidates 'belief' about abortion even though the candidate has no intension changing anything about it, and instead they push tax cuts for the wealthy, less social programs to help families in poverty, plundering of the environment and racist legislation against Mexicans. If you vote based on morals, don't you find this tactic immoral?
I've heard countless statements from people, "How can you vote for someone who supports abortion?" "Someone who supports abortion has no morals and is not fit to lead." They act as though there is only one issue that matters to the presidency, even though that same issue has not had any progress.
It has become the ultimate Republican political football. For that reason alone I bet they don't ever want it to go away, because people vote based on it.
What do I propose we do rather than putting our faith in politicians? Put our faith in God, asking him to end abortion (and I do pray about it). Someday, I pray that the so many Planned Parenthood clinics go bankrupt and close. Then if it ever changes in the lawbooks, it doesn't make much difference. As the church, we need to be the social program that helps pregnant mothers rather than condemning them.
These views line up better with the Democrats. Barack Obama put in his platform, for the first time ever for a democratic candidate, to produce legislation to help out single moms and lower the number of abortions. There is no such proposal on the McCain ticket. All he offers is more of the same failed tactics. I firmly believe that there will be less abortions over the next four years under Obama than there would have been under McCain. Isn't that the point of it all? Saving lives? Of course, this will only happen if Obama lives up to his promise on this issue, which as I mentioned earlier, is a risk.
The other current political football is gay marriage. Even though both candidates have the exact same stance on this issue, some friends and family members of mine seem to think Democrats are pushing it. I personally don't think American marriage will crumble if Civil Unions become a reality. I don't think it's an issue worth basing your vote on.
So there I was. I wasn't going to base my vote over one party's supposed support for moral issues. That idea was gone and I don't want to base my vote on that ever again. I was left with the issues that really matter to the presidency. Things the president will actually do in office. I literally made a chart of issues important to me and I found I agreed with Obama on more issues. I'll briefly describe them hear on order of importance to me.
1. National Defense
This has always been the most important issue to me. I firmly believe that if John Kerry were elected 4 years ago, Iraq would be in chaos rather than the dramatic improvement we have seen. Both candidates have similar stances on Iraq, I don't think either will make a decision that will cause the country to plunge back into chaos. Obama seems to be serious about increasing efforts in Afghanistan which will be good. The only big difference is Obama wants to talk to our enemies without preconditions, McCain doesn't. I think sitting down with our enemies a worthwhile tactic to try in these times.
But all said and done, I would be happy with either candidate on this issue.
2. The Economy
Aside from the fact that Civil Engineers will see more money in our business if Obama's infrastructure plan goes into effect, I had to say that I agreed with Obama more on how to steer the economy. I don't think the deregulation, let the market go idea McCain promotes is going to help. Exec's have gotten to greedy this decade, it's time for more regulation.
However Mr. Obama does have a stance that I strongly disagree with, free trade. I think the idea that we have to export as many Ford automobiles as we import cars from the many many countries that make wonderful cars is downright insane. I don't care how many jobs we lose because our cars are not as good as other countries cars. Car companies in America need to make better cars, or close their factories, and those who are laid off need to find other jobs. That's just the nature of business, it has been for thousands of years.
But still, I would rather have Obama on this issue.
3. Taxes
The idea that we need to increase government spending and not tax enough to pay for it is nuts. Just is. Also, the idea that the wealthy need all the tax breaks that they can get (as if they don't have enough?) and that wealth will just 'trickle down' is also nuts. So it's Obama on this one.
4. Health Care
As an uninsured American with a wife on Medicaid, this was somewhat important to me. Did you know that I am denied health care from all providers just because I am married to a pregnant woman? I am perfectly healthy, but my status as an expected parent forces me to be uninsured. I came back from charity service overseas with Stephanie pregnant and was shocked at this discovery. McCain won't do anything to fix this, so it's Obama again.
5. Experience
This was the toughest one for me. McCain has a stellar record of service, reaching across the aisle, going against his party on numerous occasions. But unfortunately for him, he seemed to forget all that during his presidential campaign. He changed many of his stances to appear more conservative to voters instead of staying where he was as one of the most moderate politicians in Washington. This frankly, made me feel betrayed. Sarah Palin anyone? When this election started, both Stephanie and I were pumped that McCain won the republican nomination, and we intended to vote for him over the far liberal Obama. The way John McCain ran his campaign changed that. He aligned many of his popular 'maverick' stances with the Republican party, and both Steph and I felt that it was a sign that he would carry this practice into his presidency.
So it was very sad that I had to say that even though McCain's record was good, he betrayed his values this year, causing me to say, either candidate on this issue.
So off to the ballet box
So when I weighed it all, it was obvious that I should vote for Obama. Yeah he's a risk, but he is far more aligned with my values than John McCain. It was with a very heavy heart that I left John McCain's bubble uncolored. I hesitated a bit before I colored in Barack Obama's. But I am glad I did it.
I'm not so delusional as to refer to myself as a 'moderate'. We live in a polar political system. We get two choices. You are either one or the other, blue or red, donkey or elephant. So that's how I became a democrat, and I would be proud of my decision even if John McCain were elected.
Let's all hope that Obama does a good job. | | |
| Egypt - Part 6c - Censored from Supporter Blog
These entries were deemed to racy for the supporter blog.
PDA
When I say PDA, you immediately think about a couple making out in public. This idea does not stem from the term public display of affection as much as our cultural perception of acceptable physical affection in public. Holding hands is a sign of affection, and if done in public, therefore it’s PDA.
Any form of PDA is taboo in Ugandan culture. I never saw a couple holding hands once the entire time I was there. Of course Steph and I didn’t hold hands while there to be respectful of the local customs, but this made me very sad, because I like holding her hand.
In Egypt, I saw several young couples holding hands or locking arms, which made me very happy. I just like to see people open about the love they have for each other in public. It’s happy.
Later I learned that this practice is a product of the rebellious youth culture. The older generation does not find it acceptable, but it is widely practiced with the new generation, which raises an interesting question for westerners. If it’s acceptable for young Egyptians, is it acceptable for young foreigners, or should foreigners adopt the more rigid traditions of the older generation?
I don’t have a good answer to that.
Anyway, it was nice to see people holding hands.
Orderly Stores
Shops had organized shelves, rather than appearing as a packrat’s garage which is what I became used to in Uganda. | | |
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