Election 2008!

Jason,

Today was voting day. I voted for five Republicans and three Democrats. I had a very long (and probably boring) post outlining my take on the two Presidential candidate's views, experience, character, education, judgment...and I decided to ditch it. I do think it would be interesting for you to read my thoughts on the candidates someday, so I will try to give you some insight into my thoughts today. It basically boils down to this:

I believe the federal government has seized way too much power (and money) in this country. The federal government is a terrible steward of our tax dollars. Not only is it rife with waste and corruption, the system itself is set up to be unbelievably inefficient. The last thing I want to see is more federal programs, which in effect take away personal, local, or state control of matters. The federal government can hardly operate the programs already in existence.

Of course, certain things must take place at the federal level, namely foreign affairs, defense, and civil rights protection. I also think the federal government should set policy in many areas, such as education, health care, public safety issues, economics (although a room full of mostly lawyers making economic policy makes me cringe), and many others. What the federal government stinks at is execution. There is hardly a bit of oversight by the people. Execution should take place at the lowest level of government possible (or not a government agency at all), in order to provide the people with maximum oversight. If your school is doing a poor job, you can bet I will be at the next School Board meeting raising all kinds of hell. Of course, I raise concerns with my Congressman and Senators via letters on a regular basis. It doesn't have quite the same effect, though.

Traditionally, this vision of small government would align me with the Republican party. However, the Republican party has been transformed into some sort of moral and cultural consortium, rather than a group of people with similar views of how government should work. They have overseen huge expansions in the federal government over the past eight years. Also, I am fiercely liberal on a large number of "the issues". So I have a hard time identifying with the Republican Party.

Further complicating matters is Senator John McCain. Before his campaign, I would have leapt with joy to vote for him. He was the Democrat's Republican. Not afraid to go against the herd. A long record of working with both sides of the aisle. A feisty temper. I adored him! And then...this campaign of his. I have no idea where Senator McCain went, but he was nowhere to be found over the past year. He began catering to the conservative special interest groups and I was disappointed once again.

Then there is Senator Obama. Simply put, I think it takes a great deal of arrogance to propose some of the policies he has proposed. It also takes a great deal of good intentions. My problem with his stance--on issues from health care to international relations--is this idea that he, or the government, knows best. That the government will swoop in to save the day. They will fix the markets. Involve the government in my health care (I've already had that, thank you very much, and it sucked). While many of his proposed policies sound lovely, I think they will result in a "New New Deal" for lack of a better term. I am concerned by that; this country already has a huge problem with personal accountability, and I worry this will exacerbate that problem.

So. I am left without an especially attractive candidate. My vote will be for Senator McCain, in the hopes that the John McCain of years past would resurface (in the unlikely event he wins the race). In Senator Obama's case, I hope the Barack Obama of his campaign wins out, rather than the Barack Obama his record suggests.

Either way, I'll be a burr in the side of the new President's letter-reading staff ;)