Maybe I should’ve written this before the election, but I don’t know that my words would have swayed anyone’s vote. Most people I know had their minds made up early in the game and didn’t change.
image by Thomas Hawk
I voted for Barack Obama because:
We are embroiled in a war I was opposed to from the start, a war that was based on lies. I’m not a dove. I used to be opposed to all military intervention, but 9/11 changed that. I know we as a nation have enemies that must be dealt with. But as the mother of three sons, who are or who are soon to be military age, I believe we need to lose the America as Cowboy attitude. We need to work with the rest of the world. We need to look closely at what works and what doesn’t and if it’s not working we need to change course. I believe Obama will do that. I believe with Obama as Commander in Chief we, with other like-minded nations, will go after our true enemies: those that endanger our national security, and those that endanger humanity with their hate.
In the interest of “national security” we’ve seen our rights as American citizens abused and trampled. Strong domestic security is a must, but not at the expense of my rights to privacy and free expression. So-called security measures that exist just to make me feel better, but don’t actually do anything, need to be reviewed and change. Let’s deal with reality, not irrational fear.
Our health-care system is broken. I hear the fears about health-care reform. That we’ll have to wait for months for care. That we won’t have any choice of providers. That they type of care we’ll be eligible for will be limited. How, exactly, is that any worse than the way it is now? I only have a choice in my primary provider because I pay extra for the privilege. If I need to see a specialist I’m restricted to those who take my health insurance, and told the earliest appointment is weeks or even months away. And on top of that I get to spend hours on the phone straightening out billing and insurance for the simplest procedures, and risk having payments, or worse, procedures denied by insurance company doctors who know nothing about the specifics. It can’t get worse, and could be so much better!
Education. How did we get here? No Child Left Behind, an unfunded mandate that has changed the way our kids are taught, and not for the better. The testing requirements leave no time for creativity. Teachers are forced to become robotic and interchangeable. Children are judged based only on test results and not on their unique abilities, their creativity is squashed the moment they enter kindergarten, simply because there’s not enough time in the day to allow for anything that won’t end up tested somewhere. Are standards necessary? Yes. But I believe under Obama the scope of what constitutes success will be widened and more funding will become available so local schools aren’t forced to choose between math and music education, between language arts and visual arts. Each of my boys has something only he can bring to this world, and I want them to be encouraged, not told there’s no time.
The economy. The fact is, it’s quite possible I would have paid less taxes under McCain. But in the last month I’ve seen the money we’d set aside for education and retirement dwindle away, thanks to a market that imploded due to unchecked corporate greed. College educations need to be more affordable. Small businesses need to be encouraged and supported. While I’d like to see more support for two parent/single income families, I don’t think that’s a reasonable primary goal in this economy. Obama’s plans to help families by creating incentives towards more flexible jobs, better funding for childcare, and paid leave for family care will help my children raise their children, my grandchildren, in this world we’re handing down to them.
I could try to cover every issue, but these are the ones that matter most to me. McCain’s stance on our presence in Iraq, and his incredibly bizarre choice of running mate only solidified my choice.
I just want what every parent wants- a good future for my kids. It was easy to push the button next to Barack Obama’s name.
