law-of-freedom

I just can't get the importance of our decision this year out of my mind.  We are facing an exponentially growing national debt and other frightening economic indicators - mortgages and energy come to mind.  There are fears about national security, and although I think we should be more concerned about our economic situation (which is more perilous and more within our realm of control), I think we should pay attention to how our leaders (and potential leaders) deal with situations like Russia-Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.  These are not insignificant to our future.

Here is how I view the choice this year:

If you blame the "go-it-alone" "arrogant" attitude of our President for our problems (eg, isolating us with a unilateral foreign policy, silencing criticism, deregulation that encouraged the mortgage crisis), you probably won't like the not-so-different "maverick" "my way or the highway" management styles of McCain and Palin.  Palin seems particularly eager to fire people who offer up dissent - this is of course open to interpretation, since we don't know the hearts of those who criticize or endorse her, and even if we did, even the best of us have bad days.

If you blame the "wishy-washy" "do-nothing" "corrupt" Senate (and House) for our problems (lack of fiscal or ethical discipline leading to all sorts of scandals and skyrocketing debt), you probably won't like the "talk about it" "avoid confrontation" management styles of Obama and Biden.  Obama probably wouldn't start a nuclear war, but he might not be willing to push the button when necessary, or less dramatic but still extremely important, veto exorbitant spending or stand up against acquaintances who are corrupt.

Can you have it both ways?  Well, you could have a leader who is tough on corruption, but just as tough on themselves by allowing criticism and dissent.  The problem is knowing who that person is.  Anyone who stands up against someone or something is going to make enemies.  Anyone who is a "team player" has probably compromised his or her principles at some point.

For me, the jury is still out.  I'm waiting for the debates.  I hope they don't get sugarcoated.  Our issues are real - I want the discussion to be equally real.