Several people I respect have expressed they are voting for Obama, but I still don’t get what they see in him. Yes, there are several issues that I don’t agree with McCain or Palin on. But, when it comes down to it, I’m deeply scared about Obama becoming our president. I’ve struggled for months to understand Obama and I can’t find any peace about electing him.
Socialist Agenda…
Redistribute the Wealth… It’s hard to see Obama’s tax and financial policies as anything more than taking from the rich and giving it to the poor. That’s just wrong for the government to do that. Instead we should be encouraging everyone to prosper and reach their full potential. And it’s morally wrong for us to create any additional sense of entitlement for those that don’t work hard. We should be encouraging the rich to compassionately help the poor to get out of poverty, not punishing the rich for their success.
Right to Health Care… I’m sorry, but healthcare is not an inalienable right. While it makes sense to fight pandemic diseases and maintain policies that promote health, healthcare is not a right. The beauty of our constitution is it’s simple focus on fundamental natural, civil, and human rights. It gives people the freedom to choose and rise to their potential.
OK, I know some of you are questioning my understanding of and commitment to the Gospel and it’s social significance. I’m a huge proponent of the Church serving the social needs of the world. And it’s a shame that the Church has done such a poor job of it that many people now think that it’s the government’s job to provide social justice to our world. The Church needs to rise and reclaim it’s calling from Christ to care for the needy and oppressed.
World View…
I think it’s a bit over the top that many Christians base their entire election choice soley on abortion. But, while abortion is not the only issue, it is very important. How a candidate values life is a significant indicator of their world view. And Obama has a clear record of not valuing the life of unborn children and also communicating incongruent perspectives on the issue when talking to different interest groups. It also perplexes me how Obama can champion the rights of the poor to have healthcare and financial success, but yet support killing children who haven’t been born yet. He fights for the right to healthcare of a 1 minute old baby, but not the right to life for a baby 1 minute prior to birth. That doesn’t seem like a consistent world view. It worries me that perhaps his policies are designed to get votes of minorities, rather than to make a right, moral decision. What group will be next to be taken advantage of?
Vague Plans…
Obama communicates very smoothly, but rarely ever says much of substance. He often comes across as a broken record advocating change. Yet, his political record in the Illinois and US senates don’t really show that he’s much of a changer.
I do fundamentally disagree with Obama on some issues such as Defense, Economy, Education, Foreign Policy, Healthcare, Immigration, and Taxes. But what scares me even more is that many of his other positions on key issues sound kind of good. When I dig deeper on these issues I agree with, I realize Obama often doesn’t actually address the core problem or have a clear solution. He promotes generic change on a lot of issues, but has no clearly communicated plan of what that change might be. It seems like we’re gambling that Obama’s changes might be something we agree with.
Your Feedback…
Maybe I’m missing something and am confused. I’ve been wrong before. So, if you have similar values as me and are an Obama supporter, I’d like to hear what your reasoning is. Let me know your thoughts on why you are choosing Obama or McCain by posting a comment here or emailing me directly.
And, be sure to vote! Don’t just listen to the polls and think the outcome is already guaranteed one way or another.
You’ve explained why you can’t vote for Obama. You’ve not explained why you would vote for McCain. 🙂
And now for a bit more substantial feedback…
> Redistribute the Wealth…
Do you find that McCain is less prone to redistribution? Republicans have a reputation for taking from the poor (as the relative majority of citizens) and giving to the rich (either directly or indirectly). If the reputation has any merit, which redistribution is the lesser evil?
> Right to Health Care…
If (and it’s a *big* if) universal healthcare could be provided without decreasing quality or government spending, would it make sense for it to do so?
> World View…
Do you find MaCain’s worldview to be less politically expedient?
> Vague Plans…
Has Obama actually had much opportunity to affect change? Phrased differently, has he desired change that was calculated to be unattainable with his available resources? Is it morally wrong to be shrewd in one’s strategy in how best to achieve desired changes? Would he be able to affect more change as President?
> I realize Obama often doesn’t actually address the core problem or have a clear solution.
Only the Bible does that. The core problem is spiritual, not political. But even if you reject the relevance of this, do you find that McCain does a better job of addressing the core problems and providing clear solutions? When you say “core” and “clear” are you implying “real” and correct” as well?
Matthew, thanks for the comments. Here’s my perspective on the questions you posed.
> > Redistribute the Wealth…
> Do you find that McCain is less prone to redistribution?
I hear this idea expressed a lot, but have not been able to understand what that means. Do you really think McCain and Republicans in general want to take advantage of the poor? I guess what bothers me more than wealth distribution happening, is the motivation, philosophy, and desire behind it.
> > Right to Health Care…
> If (and it’s a *big* if) universal healthcare could be provided without decreasing quality or government spending, would it make sense for it to do so?
That is a huge ‘if’. People talk about universal healthcare as if it hasn’t already been attempted before around the world. I don’t like what I’ve seen with these efforts, so it’d have to be radically different than the existing attempts.
And, coming from the healthcare industry, I can attest that most of the problems with our current system are a direct result of the government’s involvement through Medicare/Medicaid/Insurance and their judicial system. I frankly want less government involvement with healthcare, rather than more.
> > World View…
> Do you find MaCain’s worldview to be less politically expedient?
I’m not quite sure what you mean by ‘less politically expedient’. I do find McCain’s worldview to have less potential of damaging our culture in the next 4 years of service.
>> Vague Plans…
> Has Obama actually had much opportunity to affect change?
Exactly. If he wants to be President, he needs a history of change that we can look at.
> Phrased differently, has he desired change that was calculated to be unattainable with his available resources? Is it morally wrong to be shrewd in one’s strategy in how best to achieve desired changes?
I don’t understand what you’re saying or asking here. 🙁
> Would he be able to affect more change as President?
Honestly, probably not. The Presidential Office has rarely brought about real, significant change. Congress is the place that has the most potential for affecting change.
> > I realize Obama often doesn’t actually address the core problem or have a clear solution.
> Only the Bible does that. The core problem is spiritual, not political.
I couldn’t agree more with that.
> But even if you reject the relevance of this, do you find that McCain does a better job of addressing the core problems and providing clear solutions?
Yes.
> When you say “core” and “clear” are you implying “real” and correct” as well?
Not necessarily. I’m definitely not implying that all of McCain’s solutions are correct. But, from what I understand they don’t move us in the wrong direction and worsen our culture. I fear Obama’s world view will weaken and demoralize us. I sure hope I’m wrong.