What can we do?

Editorial

On The Issues has informed information on the presidential candidates. It is a great place to start, especially for individual histories. What follows are some issues of importance to peace. Either of these candidates towers above the current incumbent on some or most issues. One towers much higher than the other.

ISSUE	MC CAIN	OBAMA
Imperial/Unitary Presidency	Close to Bush	Distant from Bush
Faith-Based Initiatives	Fewer Than Bush Era	Fewer Than Bush Era
Special Interests	Relies On	Introduced Bill to Limit
Immigration	Certify Border is Secure Then Allow Guest Workers	Have Border Patrolled, Surveillance, Deploy Technology
Social Insight	Superficial	Deep
Stem-cell Rsearch	Favors-Palin does Not!	Favors
Leadership Style	Moderately Divisive	Inclusionary
Outreach	None to Adversaries	Will Practice Dialogue
Environment	Less Radical than Bush	Responsible to Humanity
Economy	Reduce Government Spending Low Taxes, Low Interest Rates	Tax Relief; Technology Development Balance Budget
Equal Pay For Women	Opposes	Favors
Exiting Iraq	50-100 Years	Soon But Responsibly
Flip Flops	Pragmatic	Pragmatic

Neither candidate has his feet cast in concrete; each adjusts easily to changes in the wind; we are blessed on the flip-flop point. There are a number of issues beyond these to be considered. See Browser's Hub for several more.

As for age, it may be unfair to raise it, but one fact of life is somewhere along about age 50-60 most people slow down a bit, both physically and mentally. These features show in sharp relief in competitive sports and board games. Obama is coming up on the period as McCain has already passed it. In counter point, aging usually imparts wisdom. On one hand we are left with evaluating whether the wisdom McCain has gained offsets the youthfulness and creativity of the younger Obama. That we see as possibly a tilt one way or the other. As for the physical strength and stamina the job requires, Obama wins handily. We hate taking this position as much as the next person does. It just happens to be the way of nature; we can only face up to it.

As for the future, only Obama offers potential for significant change in the long view. Expedient solutions have worked poorly if at all in all of human history, and they are not his style.

Moreover, Obama has risen above the racism and sexism spewed by others. When he stood up to the Minister who married him and Michelle, he proved he is his own man in matters that matter if peace is ever to come. Sexism and racism are just two of the many rocks in the road to peace. They are now an overt part of the 2008 presidential race. Obama didn't make them an issue. He rose above such pettiness.

Finally, only Obama offers any break-out potential to change the myopic outlook of the last Administration. Obama is a healer by nature and practice. His career, his campaign, both show that particular strength. Furthermore, being creative, he is willing to try new things, indeed he has just completed the most innovative primary campaign in American history. Some in the media claim his campaign will prove revolutionary, even reshape American politics. Ducking special interests, Obama appealed directly to Americans, and found grass-roots support way beyond all expectations. If he wins the presidency and ultimately fails to stir the citizens of the world, it will not be because he didn't try. But it is high time someone of world stature made the attempt. We vote for giving Obama that chance. Obama will restore the respect America once held throughout the world.


In large measure, if Obama wins the presidency, his subsequent success depends on us--and our fellow citizens everywhere.

If Mc Cain wins, we will have a problem of a different sort, essentially with the continuation of the status quo equivalent to another Bush term.

Each has credibility in Europe, so our foreign policy should be more effective than we have been used to.