For a country that prides itself in being the most forward thinking and innovative; American voting patterns leave a lot to be desired. Hear me out on this. To fully appreciate my point of view, you simply have to look at the last two elections and how the electorate decided who was the best person to be our president. Trivialities take center stage and common sense goes out the door. Many Americans claimed they felt more comfortable with president Bush even though he was not necessarily the brighter candidate.

Al Gore lost the presidency to George Bush, even though Al Gore was the Vice president during the most productive eight year in the last 24 years. I totally agree with John Stewart of the daily show. His contention is: ” I don’t want a president who is not smarter than me”. This after Barack Obama was accused of being elitist. Stewart further says that some elitism is healthy for a person holding the highest office. Of course the accusation was totally unfounded against Barack Obama. He was totally flustered and visibly shaken. For a while he was unable to outline his vision for the country.

In 2004 when John Kerry ran against George Bush, the same elitist accusation worked to derail his campaign. Even with failed policies, two wars that were costing the the US billions of dollars, George Bush was painted as the one who was able to understand the woes of the average person. Only in the US would a person who has such a limited grasp of important issues win two elections like he did. My point is this, the erosion that has taken place, including deregulation of markets; has been due to lack of oversight on the president’s part. Let’s been honest, the buck stops with the president.

It is amazing that after 8 years of republican reckless, more often irresponsible policies; John McCain has the audacity to say he would actually be a better candidate than Barack Obama. This temerity comes from the knowledge that most people don’t vote based on issues that affect their lives. With an economy that is in recession, two wars that are costing tax payers billions of dollars; you’d expect people to listen to an alternative to a republican more keenly. No… they prefer to digest unsubstantiated rumors about Obama being a Muslim and therefore unable to be an effective president.

Granted it’s difficult to sift truth from lies and all politicians tend to stretch the truth. What John McCain has done with his campaign however, is unforgivable considering what the American people are going through. He has insisted on campaign attacks that are full of logical fallacies, distorted Barack Obama’s credentials, and basically assassinated his character. To top it all, for a person who claims to care about the country more than anyone else, he chose a running mate to basically help him win an election. He did not vet her like he should have and apparently disregarded her lack of leadership skills.

John Mc Cain has stood by Sara Palin even as she misrepresented her past over and over again. The word maverick has lost it’s luster as far as McCain is concerned. For a person who constantly injects honor, he showed how much he lacks class. Throughout the democratic convention, he shamelessly sought to take media coverage away from Barack Obama and the democrats. What McCain has morphed into, is a greedy, shameless politician with no scruples.

With all these you’d expect the electorate to lean more toward the democratic party. The fact that the polls show that Barack Obama and John McCain are neck and neck is puzzling. One is left to wonder if Americans have to lose everything to seek an alternative. In most developed countries a non performing incumbent party would not be given the kind of chances republicans have been given. Remember Tony Blair of Britain…

All in all I find the voting patterns of Americans quite disturbing. To vote based on familiarity, race or gender is despicable. That there are women who have college bound sons and daughters but would still vote for McCain because of Sarah Palin, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Barack Obama obviously has better plan for college students than John McCain. For any self-respecting woman to vote for McCain because of Sarah Palin is irresponsible especially if they’re democrats. Roe vs Wade is in danger of being repealed in John McCain and Sarah Palin’s administration. McCain has changed his position virtually all kinds of issues. This does not seem to reverberate with voters however.

My hope is that the recent market crash together with two ongoing wars and jobs being shipped overseas will be enough of a jolt. But then again we are talking about an electorate that votes based on fear, racial bias and comfort level with the candidate. In other words, a president that they could sit and drink beer with. McCain and his staff know this and they’re doing everything to make the election about personalities. How disappointing one may think. It’s a stark reality that we may wake up on the 5th of November and have John McCain as the president. For some this may be a welcome choice but for those who have foresight and forethought, it would be devastating to say the least. Once again the American electorate would have voted with their biases and not their heads.

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This entry was posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 2:36 am.