Hey, flist?

[preussisch_blau]

Can we be reasonable, rational human beings when it comes to politics?

I think we can. No, scratch that. I know we can.

Right now, there's a big election coming up for us Americans. And honestly? I have a lot of questions I'd like answered. So, hopefully we can be civilised while I get these questions answered.

Here's how it goes. I'll be making a public post every couple of days, with one of my questions. Anyone can participate. You can even send your friends over here to participate. However, there will be ground rules.

1./ There will be no insults thrown. This applies to your fellow commenters AND to the politicians. For those of you who need specific examples, there is to be no mention of "kool-aid" in reference to either party (unless we're actually discussing kool-aid), there will be no comments like "Grumpy McSame" or "Osama bin Biden", and there will definitely be NO calling anyone a cunt. We're going to be respectful here.

2./ Please make ONE point per comment. You may have a lot of answers. However, I like things organised. So, if I ask a question you can give a lot of different responses to, please leave each point as a separate comment. For example, if I were to ask "What do you like about chicken noodle soup and why?" and your answer is "the chicken and the noodles", you would leave two separate comments; one about the chicken, and one about the noodles.

3./ If someone's already made the point you wanted to make, please just continue in the thread they started. I think this one explains itself.

4./ Anyone is free to express their opinion in any thread they desire. Please keep opinions/comments related to the thread at hand, however. The corollary to this being that if you don't like someone's opinion about a candidate, calling them racist or misogynist is not the way to go. I don't tolerate pointless bandying about of the race or sex card. That, and it falls under Rule 1.

5./ Opinions are opinions, not facts. If it's your opinion, you don't need to back it up. Just realise I will ask WHY you think that way. Also realise someone may have facts that run contrary to your opinion. If you tout something as fact, I will demand proof. Take as long as you need to find proof. I won't rush you, so long as you don't rush me. Same applies to everyone else.

6./ Celebrities are neither political nor legal experts. So I'd be very careful bringing any actors or musicians into this.

Breaking these rules will result in frozen threads, banned users, and possible deleted comments if the comment is THAT offensive. Also, this is my personal blog, so if I say the discussion is over, it is over. You can carry it on in your blog, you can IM eachother about it, knock yourselves out, but don't let it continue in my blog.

THAT business out of the way, I have my first question.

Why should I vote for Obama?

Comments

[foofighter0234.livejournal.com]

Yes ma'am! Here's my view. :)

In my opinion, you should vote for Obama because he'll bring something new to Washington politics that favors the middle class American worker, instead of bringing more of the same, tired, big business centered fuckery that favors oil companies and CEOs and does nothing for the common Americans who often struggle to pay their mortgage, have to decide between buying food or buying medication, and finding a way to get health care for themselves when they do not have health insurance.

I personally voted for Obama because I cannot stand four more years of America getting screwed by the oil companies and big businesses, and us having to pay the price for their fuck ups.

[skew-whiff.livejournal.com]

The points I would usually argue this based upon are largely ideological; as you're conservative by inclination, these would be wasted upon you.

I'm generally of the opinion that most people have fairly fixed tendencies which they wouldn't wish to change, and it's a waste of time to attempt to convince all but the politically indecisive.

That, and well, I don't know enough about the specific policy points of the two parties to really comment intelligently.
I will say this, though. You live in the world's sole superpower (for the moment; keep an eye on China). Who you vote for affects all of us. And, well, I'm sure a lot of us would prefer it if you go for the one with the less hawkish foreign policy. The 'war on terror' has done little for your global reputation. You've tried aggressive military tactics for the past seven years - maybe it's time to try something else, and Obama seems to suggest he'd take a more diplomatic tack. That's my argument for, I suppose.

Still, I'm hardly expecting this to sway you.

[greek-jester.livejournal.com]

Personally? I would be very, very nervous if the Republicans got in due to M's ill health - the chances of him surviving his term as president are slim, & that would mean SP would take over. The idea that someone who would charge rape victims for the kits that collect evidence of the rape & prevent them getting pregnant, is appalling. The fact that the same person states she would be willing to deny victims of rape, even incestuous rape, access to an abortion is worse. The thought of someone like that being in charge of one of the most powerful countries in the world? *shudders* Just my $0.02.