One day when I was old enough to understand, my great grandfather explained to me in a very succinct way: Republicans are for the rich; Democrats are for the poor. In my life this has turned out to be a fact. “Compassionate Conservatism” is a recognition by the Republican Party that they in fact are not that compassionate, not that caring about the welfare of all. Libertarianism leans too far to the side of limited government with no regulation, touting individual freedom, free markets, and the sanctimony of intellectual as well as private property; the exact mindset that got us into this economic quagmire of today -- there doesn’t seem to be any recognition that we need boundaries. Democrats have been labeled socialist for their support of entitlements for the underprivileged, and support of collective bargaining. For that reason and that reason alone, I have been a life long Democrat. However, I am libertarian leaning: I am “one who advocates maximizing individual rights and minimizing the role of the state.” I believe in small government, the smallest possible, but we still need governance. I believe in free markets and freedom; however that does not mean we do not need regulation or boundaries on human behavior, and it does not mean we can all drive the highways and byways without the benefit of traffic lights. It also does not mean that we as a people should not have a concern for the least amongst us. There is more to governing than protecting individual liberty and property. It does not mean we can live in a society without authentic justice for all. I believe that the only way to fundamental and authentic freedom is world peace.
I believe in capitalism and free markets, where “individuals and firms have the right to own and use wealth to earn income and to sell and purchase labor for wages with little or no government control.” It’s an outstanding concept, but in our zeitgeist we still need regulation and boundaries on human action.
The irony in my sort of oxymoronic view is that I support economic protections, programs of wellness and support for the indigent or those who do not have the where-with-all to compete with those who have-it-all. My view should not be interpreted as a view that makes me a collectivist or a socialist (“ownership and control of the means of production and distribution by the people collectively, under the supervision of a government.”), a communist or Marxist (“government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people”) but I am egalitarian. I, as does Barack Obama, do believe in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people. It also should not be interpreted as that I believe in handouts.
Martin Luther King believed in and suffered for equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people. He was not a communist, as was claimed by his opponents at the time. He was not an anti-semitic, which was claimed by his opponents at the time. He did not believe in an exclusive black America or anarchy to achieve his goals, which was also claimed by his opponents at the time. He was jailed, vilified and investigated, and all sorts of derogatory claims against his character were made. He believed in community based initiatives, and non-violent human action that would bring change to government. He played a significant role in what changed the way we embrace race in America, as I knew it as a young man to what it is today. The young people I know today are absolutely color blind. Martin Luther King, Jr. put us in the right direction to achieve that.
Labor unions, a socialistic way of organizing labor, have benefited all of us. Americans would not enjoy the personal and family benefits from work that we have today if it was not for labor unions.
The “invisible hand” of Adam Smith (“a belief that the greatest benefit to a society is brought about by individuals acting freely in a competitive marketplace in the pursuit of their own self-interest) nor the “Trickle-Down” economics of Reagan (“supply-side economics, trickle-down economics is the theory that tax cuts for the wealthy merely 'trickled down' to the bottom groups’) does not help the middle class or the indigent; “Trickle-Down” just doesn’t happen in a way that benefits all. I don’t understand why we provide help for Wall Street -- in other words “corporate welfare” -- and provide no help for anyone else; socialistic approaches of help are good for the rich, but not for anyone else. How come?
With conservatism, the caveat is oligarchy or plutocracy; while socialism is the inherent caveat of liberalism, and anarchism is the caveat of Libertarianism. It is up to you and me to make sure that “We the People” keep things in balance.
My priorities are world peace, and protections for the least-amongst-us. In my view, we cannot have good governance, fundamental capitalism and freedom without world peace, which is more than the absence of war, but a concern for the welfare of all people.
There is a level of fear about Obama derived from his socialistic views, the positions that Barack Obama has taken is a result of his concern for protections for the least-amongst-us. Opponents are calling his position socialism, further addressing it as Marxism, communism, or he as the newest disciple of Karl Marx, even Obama the black Hitler, comparing the similarities between Barack Obama and Hitler.
The level of fear about Barack Obama has even brought some Americans into calling him a terrorist because of his associations with William Ayers, who is now a professor in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, holding the titles of Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar. He did have radical views, and took violent radical action in opposition to the Vietnam War. However, anyone who lived through the zeitgeist of Vietnam surely must have some understanding of the torrent of violent and non-violent human action that was taken in opposition to that horrendous war.
Barack Obama believes that community based initiatives, NGO’s, and faith-based organizations will bring about the change that is needed for America to evolve to a better place in the world. That change in how we govern ourselves and in foreign policy will come from the roots of America, from the “boots on the ground.” Change will not come from Washington, but to Washington from and by Americans; the very essence of a democracy. He believes in “We the People.” This is what Barack Obama believes. This is very different from a Nazi, Marxist, or communist view.
Barack Obama believes in diplomacy and negotiation as opposed to belligerence. Fred Shelm's Blog, as well as McCain and others, refer to Barack’s approach as Chamberlainian by calling it appeasement, which it is not from any reasoned viewpoint. Obama’s goal is to resolve issues peacefully. That is a change he intends to make in regard to foreign policy.
What we need from our next president is authentic leadership. We need a president with the capacity to lead and the ability to inspire, the ability to effect change, which I believe is Barack Obama.
His ability to inspire others is evident in the following endorsements, because, obviously he has inspired them:
Colin Powell said in his endorsement of Barack Obama: “And I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities--and we have to take that into account--as well as his substance--he has both style and substance--he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president. I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the world--onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama.”
Former Massachusetts Republican Gov. William Weld has endorsed Barack Obama saying, “It’s not often you get a guy with his combination of qualities, chief among which I would say is the deep sense of calm he displays, and I think that’s a product of his equally deep intelligence.”
Scott McClellan, President Bush's former press secretary said, “he's always planned to support the candidate that has the best chance for changing the way Washington works and getting things done.”
Warren Buffet said, "I don't think McCain is going to change his views to be in accord with mine. I admire him a lot. I think he's an absolutely first-class human being, and if the Republicans are going to elect somebody I hope it's John McCain.” "But he has too many ideas that are different than I do, particular in terms of what I would call social justice."
With a President Barack Obama I believe there is hope for a better America and world: “A World that Stands as One.” I believe he will bring probity to the White House. I believe his election will put America on a beneficial and more productive national and international standing.
