Politically Active

Except for voting, I’ve never actively participated in a U.S. presidential election. The importance of the 2008 election has forced me to end that trend. It’s no secret – I support Senator Barack Obama for president of the U.S. I’ve already donated money to his campaign and yesterday I attended an organizational meeting to learn how I can volunteer my time to help him get elected.

Yesterday’s meeting was inspiring because at least 50 regular Americans, with no official or political connection to Senator Obama, explained why they support him. The attendees ranged from old to young and the group itself was diverse in ethnicity. Below are the 5 most frequent reasons why the attendee decided to endorse Senator Obama.

Hope:

Many believe that Barrack Obama provides hope for America. It can be argued that a majority of the current elected officials gained and sustained their positions by prorogating fear. They paint a picture of a world plagued by terrorism and consumed by racial Islam. They offer no hope that things could be different through dialogue and action.

Reality shows that terrorism and racial Islam has grown, but that does not mean that we can’t reverse this trend. During the Cold War, it appeared that communism would consume the world, but look what happened – it substantially decreased because people maintained a hope that democracy and capitalism would win out. With that hope, America acted and other countries related to our hope and adopted our case.

I realize that some people would rather rule in hell, than serve in heaven and as I result, they will use their powers to create chaos and despair. I also realize that no matter what America says and does, some individuals and countries will never support the U.S. With that being said, Obama is the candidate best suited to spread hope to other countries that this world doesn’t have to be violated by rogue terrorist and consumed by the evils of radical terrorism. I believe that hope is a better motivator for change than fear.

Healthcare Reform:

The current healthcare system doesn’t work as many working Americans are uninsured and those with insurance are unable to pay the high premiums. Everyday I turn on the news and see stories where insurance companies are declining treatments because of financial reasons. In other words, they are gambling with peoples’ lives in an effort to save money.

Although I’m not completely versed or fully sold on Obama’s universal healthcare plan, I agree with him that something has to change. Insurance and healthcare should not be dictated by a company trying to save money. On some level, every American should have affordable access to healthcare. If other industrialized countries can provide these services, I don’t why America can’t do the same. Perhaps the service should be a hybrid public / private entity, but it should be completed overhauled.

Iraq:

The war in Iraq has gone on for too long. Some troops should return home and others should be sent to Afghanistan, where the “real” danger lies. In some respects, Iraq shouldn’t be characterized as a war anymore because we’re fighting warring rebels and insurgents, with no connection to the official government.

Partisan Politics:

The whole blue state versus red state is old and must be done away with. The current partisan politics are hurting the country because nothing is getting accomplished. Both parties have to realize that all the recent elections have been so close, that neither said should act as if they have a clear mandate from the American public.

Obama understands this concept and he’s more about unity politics. No name calling, no hiding behind party lines, just results. Politics shouldn’t be about democrat versus republican, it should be about all elected officials coming to together and trying to improve the lives of all Americans. There needs to be compromise and understanding. I realize that not everyone’s vision of America is the same, but we all should realize that we all share a desire to see our great country prosper.

Inspiration:

Whether people want to acknowledge it or not – Obama is the face of the 21^st century American – multicultural, worldly traveled, educated, and genuine. In some respects, we all can identify with him and draw inspiration from him. He’s not like a majority of elected officials – white, male, and from old money. America needs a president it can relate to. Someone who has lived as an average American, not someone that was more into money, always had money, and never experienced the trials and tribulations that regular American deal with.