You don't want Obama and you don't want McCain
By p1kef1sh
@p1kef1sh (45681)
July 12, 2008 7:57am CST
I don't usually involve myself in politics. It is a no win situation. However, I have read an awful lot about apparent drawbacks to Obama and to a lesser extent to McCain. Much of it has been sourced from the most outlandish places and virtually all of it deals with the candidates personalities and not their policies. So I would like to ask two questions of the US voters on myLot:
What makes a good President of the United States of America?
What Policies should they bring in that will make a real difference to the lives of Americans in their first 12 months in office?
5 people like this
7 responses
@nannacroc (4049)
•
12 Jul 08
The first thing that sprang to mind when I read this discussion was one of my dads sayings about all political figures. They should be under 9 or over 90. Under 9 they don't know what their doing and over 90 they don't care. The problem with that is America and Britain both seem to have been ruled by people who are mentally if not physically in these categories.
Douglas Adams says that it's only the people that don't want to be in politics who would be any good at running a country. I think I'm inclined to agree.
The only policy I can think of offhand is to stop declaring war all over the place and sort out Americas problems.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
12 Jul 08
We are all armchair experts Nanna. Personally that's close enough for me. I'm not sure that stopping declaring wars and sorting out America's problems is a policy. Where's the strategy? What needs to be done and where. You know my views on Iraq and Afghanistan, but we are there and have done so much damage that we cannot now just pull out. So what should we be doing? Mortgage lenders are going under. I shed no tears for them, but the millions of people that are borrowing or trying to set themselves on the housing ladder whilst unemployment and the costs of essential sky rocket unchecked. Today's America is tomorrow's UK. Not an attractive thought.
2 people like this
@nannacroc (4049)
•
12 Jul 08
You give the base to someone who cares enough to work out the policies and leave it in their hands.
2 people like this
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
12 Jul 08
You are right about it being a no win situation with either person as President. I do not like or trust either one of them but there is no doubt that one of the two will be our next President of the United States. There is too many similarities between McCain and George Bush Jr. I still have doubts about OBama and his sincerity and truthfulness. A Good President has to care about his people and do the right thing. He has to listen to what we have to say and value our opinions on what should be done to improve health insurance, gasoline prices, salaries, cost of living and the War in Iraq. Our Presidents seem to be war minded and do not care that we are losing many brothers, sisters and children. Our President should be more concerned about the well being of our people and not be so selfish and think about himself and his family and friends.
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
12 Jul 08
I think my husband said it best, when someone asked him how he was going to vote i this election.
"I wish I could just ote NO," he said.
1 person likes this
@Smith2028 (797)
• United States
12 Jul 08
What makes a good President is going to be a culmination of personal opinions with full public truths.
What the entire public can embrace is a President who has the best interest of the American People in his or her heart. A President who loves his country and wants nothing more than to make sure his country is the best it can be and continues to be a country one can be proud of.
Now on a more personal level, a good President to me is one that understands the "Shining City on A Hill" concept. A Country so great that we are seen as a beacon of greatness around the world. A country that remembers its roots and its family values. I want a President who understands the average American works hard for their money and they know better what do to with it than the government. A conservative that understands the government is too large and has been for too long. To me a good President doesn't take from the rich for the greater good, but cuts programs that aren't working, cuts the size of government, reforms welfare, and cuts taxes. I want a president who will not interpret the constitution, but rather take it as it was written. I want a president who wants and strives for Peace, but will use force when necessary. And if he or she makes a mistake, my President would admit it, apologize it, and fix it.
That to me is a good President.
1 person likes this
@Smith2028 (797)
• United States
12 Jul 08
Yeah, we can dream......but eventually an alarm clock goes off and we wake back up.
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
13 Jul 08
I've been trying to avoid the American presidential thing, though I know that is short sighted of me as the American president has such an alarming influence on the world in general. The reason I'm trying to avoid it is because there seems little point in following it! After all, by watching the candidates talk or the mainstream media coverage, you'd never get any idea about their policies. All they do is slag ench other off, and that gets very boring after the first 30 seconds or so.
Sorry that doesn't answer your question, but it seemed a good moment for a quick rant!
@ebhjboo (121)
• United States
12 Jul 08
I believe that a good president would be able to understand the common man - able to understand issues that the average americans face everyday. For me, I am looking for someone who thinks that the role of the president and federal government is to protect its citizens. I am looking for someone who thinks that the current government is way too overbloated and intruding in our lives way too much.
The number one policy that would make a real difference to Americans is allowing drilling for oil on our own soil. Too many average people are barely scraping by with the cost of everything going up because of these oil prices. Its not just gasoline...everything else is costing much more while our salaries are stagnant.
Personally, I am not impressed with either candidate. I agree with you, it is a no-win situation, pick the lesser of two evils, and pray that the country doesn't completely go down the tubes...
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
13 Jul 08
The Presidential race immediately places the candidates beyond the common man simply by the fact that they cannot just come from nowhere and need a phenomenal sum of money to just be considered their party's nominee. They are placed on a pedestal and maintained there by sycophants. It must be something of a shock when they actually get exposed to public disapproval for the first time. Thank you ebhjboo.
