therelevantrhino

I’ve been blogging here for about a month. I like to think that I make you think. At least, those of you that do think. The last thing I want to do is be another parrot, spouting talking points and agreeing with myself. I was asked today why I support Barack Obama. Bear in mind that this is my opinion, and you are certainly entitled to yours. My reasons are very personal, and may not relate to your situation. If any of you would like broader examples, feel free to ask for some, and I’ll be glad to share those as well.

I’m voting for Barack Obama because his message resonates with me. This is 2008, and we need a President who is capable of dealing with modern day problems. I feel very strongly about the direction this country has gone in eight short years, and would like to elect someone who feels like we’re on the wrong track, and need to take massive leaps to gain our global credibility back. I believe in evolution(in all senses, but most importantly in the social sense). I believe in progress. And I believe that is a shared ideal with Barack Obama.

I’m voting for Barack Obama because I oppose the war in Iraq. Surge be damned, we’re there for the wrong reasons. I agree with General Petraus when he says that victory is impossible in an occupation. Were it not for the Anbar Awakening, excessive bribery, and brilliantly executed covert operations by US Special Forces, the surge would have failed, and more of our soldiers would have lost their lives. I agree with Barack Obama when he says that Afghanistan is the central front in the war on terror, and that action should be taken in that theater, be it in Waziristan, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. Support the troops is more than a bumper sticker.

I’m voting for Barack Obama because I’m a parent. I want what every parent wants for their child: a better life than the one I had. And I had a pretty damn fine life. I was able to go to college due to scholarships and loans, which I am still paying for today. Barack Obama has a plan to make college more affordable to all families. You can read the bullet points here . Without proper education, and a chance for anyone to go to an institution of higher learning, we will not be able to compete in the global market.

I’m voting for Barack Obama because I believe in Women’s Rights. I believe that women should receive equal pay for equal work. I believe that women should be given reproductive rights. While I feel that it should ultimately be a state by state issue, I would rather it be Federally protected than not. I believe that if assaulted, women should be given every consideration for their privacy, and every opportunity to prosecute their assailants. This is a fundamental disagreement I have with John McCain, who has voted against equal pay, and advocated making abortion a Federal crime.

I’m voting for Barack Obama because I want to pay less in taxes. For the intellectually impaired, here’s a simple chart of the Obama tax plan.

I’m voting for Barack Obama because I’m self-employed. Under John McCain’s healthcare plan , families would get a $5,000 tax credit, individuals would get a $2,500 tax credit, and employer based health care would be eliminated. Why am I against McCain’s plan if I’m self-employed, you ask? Because health care would be placed on the open market. The average cost of a health care plan is around $12,000 a year, leaving $7,000 by McCain’s standards for those with care. If you don’t have healtcare, you’re screwed. Barack Obama’s healthcare plan can be found here.

In short, I’m voting for Barack Obama because he is the best candidate for me. I have serious issues with John McCain, his policies, and his judgment. I will post a blog specifically about those, and his blatant, glaring hypocrisy at a later date.

Cheers