A Tale of Two Candidates
November is slowly encroaching on our lives, but unlike most years, this one brings with it the close of one of the most closely followed and most exciting Presidential election campaigns in this nation’s history. Come November 4, a day that will stand out in the memories of our lives, we will know who has won the great contest between Barack Obama and John McCain.
You can look at this debate through a number of lenses, whether from a policy on health care or Iraq, to their respective choices of Joe Biden and Sarah Palin for VP’s, but the most interesting view for me is through the lens of those ‘fundamental differences’ that each of these candidates often speak of. I wish I had written this post a few weeks ago, before Newsweek beat me to it, but I can at least have my crack at what was then untouched territory. I want to discuss the ways that each of these individuals sees the world.
The importance of this dissection lies in that old mantra ‘perception is reality’, and these two men will soon have the power to shape the nation and the world in the image of their perceptions. Also, when you look at their policies, the two are not as different as you would expect from a Democrat and Republican. They both more or less are supporting tax cuts, increased health care, financial regulation, and international diplomacy, even though they go about them in different ways. They both are far from the ‘right’ wing of politics, and let’s not forget that they are both agents of change. I, an independent, and a moderate one at that, fall squarely in the middle of the political spectrum and have given much attention to both candidates. I have decided that the difference between the candidates lies more in their private perspectives than in their public policies. It was mentioned in the second debate, electing a president is not about electing policies and promises, but about electing someone who’s character, wisdom, and passion will guide the country through the unforeseen future and the dynamic changes of the global landscape. So with that, lets begin.
John McCain is a fighter. Much of what will follow is a direct elaboration of this central fact. The history of a man is important, because like a vector, your origins play a large role in your destination. McCain was born into a family of military men who served this country courageously and achieved many accomplishments. His father and grandfather were four-star Admirals in the Navy, and he followed that same path, through the Naval Academy and into combat in Vietnam. In those skies, a force knocked both his plane and his life off its trajectory. I hope that we all know the story, he crashed, was beaten by a mob, rescued by the goodwill of a strange woman in a strange land, imprisoned for years in POW camp, offered release as a special courtesy to an Admiral’s son, rejected this offer and suffered away for several years until he was finally freed at war’s end. A story I find amazing. Evidently it moved him as well, because it changed his fighting from a physical arena to a political one. The goodwill of the Samaritan, the camaraderie of his fellow prisoners and the persistence against an evil force (from his perspective at the time) all changed John McCain from the future-admiral to a potential future-president.
Barack Obama is a thinker. I was torn to label him a number of things, from visionary to intellectual, but what stands out most is his instinct to think through issues objectively and thoroughly. Barack, who connects so effortlessly with his audience that I insist on using his first name like I know him, also has an interesting background. He was born to a Kenyan father and white Kansas mother, but was largely raised by his mother and grandparents after the early exodus of his father, Barack Sr. He grew up in Hawaii in a middle class household until his mother remarried, causing them to move to Jakarta, Indonesia, the birthplace of his new stepfather. Eventually moving back to Hawaii to live with his grandparents, he remained there until his college years in LA and NYC. After a short, but promising career in a research firm, he left this career to pursue his dream of community organizing in Chicago. After victories in these efforts, both small and large, Barack went on to get his Law Degree at Harvard, returned to organizing, became a professor of law, and eventually settled into his current career as a politician. Much of what makes Barack a complex person, more so than McCain, comes from the path of self-discovery that runs between these impressive accomplishments. Through internal battles with his racial background and with the absence of his father, Barack emerged with a deep appreciation for the everyday struggles that others around him were dealing with. This led him to devote his life to service and he intends to continue to do so as the next president of the United States.
Barack, the thinker, and McCain the fighter, both have compelling stories that force the electorate to decide between two competent and capable candidates. So how do their histories determine their perceptions of the present and future. Lets see:
On our enemies: McCain sees the world as a dangerous place because there are bad people out there that need to be beaten down or protected against. This view presumably originates with his military upbringing, career and schooling. Obama envisions the world as a place full of miscommunications and opportunities for cooperation. Obama learned to solve problems in the service sector where problems are solved through allies and compromise not force. Both know that we have enemies, but one is more apt to beat our enemies into submission and the other is likely to see diplomacy and strong sanctions as a path to peace. McCain favors the quote, ‘speak softly, and carry a big stick’ of Teddy Roosevelt, and Obama prefers the JFK ‘never negotiate out of fear, but never fear to negotiate’. Neither would fail to use force if necessary, but the levels of restraint and hesitation would be higher for Barack.
What this means practically. The prevention of nuclear capabilities in Iran, the sovereignty of Pakistan’s Afghanistan border, and the handling of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are all issues where these differences may become a serious issue.
On our economy: Barack grew up in a single family home with grandparents who worked much of their lives. He is a solid believer in the strength of the middle class to power an economy and believes that the job creation is the key to enabling that strength. McCain admittedly does not claim to be an expert on the economy, and I suspect much of his ideas come from his background of wealth and republican ideology. That being that capitalism is a trickle down process, as it is intended to work, and that lowering taxes on the top corporations and individuals promotes investments and growth. Obama believes that wealth is concentrated in the hands of the few and wishes to equalize that distribution, McCain believes that what a person earns a person keeps.
The extremes of both views are scary. Barack’s plan for redistributing wealth in this country borders on socialism, and McCain’s tax cuts for corporations and high-wealth individuals will almost certainly allow the gap between ‘wall street’ and ‘main street’ to grow.
On healthcare and welfare: McCain proposes a significant reform to healthcare, but in no way does his plan make it universal. His plan gives the American public more freedom to take their health care provisions into their own hands. By providing a tax-credit to individuals, McCain argues that the individual will be able to choose what is best for him or herself based on their personal situation. This plays to McCains belief that government should largely stay out of the lives of the American people, and that individuals can make the best choices for themselves. It is important to note that illegal immigrants, and those that have fallen out of the federal tax system, will remain unaffected or potentially worse off from this plan. McCain does not believe in free handouts, especially to those who are not playing by the rules.
Obama plans to provide health care to each and every individual within the borders of this nation. As stated in the debate, he believes access to health care is a right. This will bring American policies more in line with our northern neighbor, and also with our contemporaries in Europe. But this will not come free; the increased coverage will likely lower the quality of some existing health care coverage, and will cause prices of ‘designer’ health care packages to be prohibitively expensive. This does bolster one of the central philosophies of Barack Obama: it is the responsibility of those who can, to provide for those who can not.
Ultimately, McCain will attempt to preserve the American way of life as it is and how it has been. Obama is prepared to guide us into a redefined American Dream in which the old lines of power and privilege are redrawn. McCain sees the America as the rightful leader of the free world while Obama sees that as a right the world must bestow upon us.
The reality of an Obama world is simple. America will have to change, from the fundamentals to the superfluous, our priorities and relations to the world will shift. We use too much energy, exercise too much power, and consume too many resources in comparison to the rest of the world. Obama believes that we must equalize with the rest of the world, and there will be undesirable aspects to that change. Under Obama, America will not fight the ascensions of other nations into power, and as a result we will use our current position of power to teach others how to grow their power responsibly.
McCain believes that we have what we deserve, not because we are gluttons, but because this is the reward and the right of those leading the free world. McCain will ensure that we continue to do so to the best of our abilities. It is not the plan of the McCain presidency to usher in the new world order, one in which the USA is not the sole-superpower. McCain may imagine the world as a giant game of King of the Hill, where there can only be one leader of the free world. We will fight to stay on top of that hill.
Prior to going to the polls on or before November 4, investigate how it is that you see the world. Doing so will make your choice for President much easier.
You can look at this debate through a number of lenses, whether from a policy on health care or Iraq, to their respective choices of Joe Biden and Sarah Palin for VP’s, but the most interesting view for me is through the lens of those ‘fundamental differences’ that each of these candidates often speak of. I wish I had written this post a few weeks ago, before Newsweek beat me to it, but I can at least have my crack at what was then untouched territory. I want to discuss the ways that each of these individuals sees the world.
The importance of this dissection lies in that old mantra ‘perception is reality’, and these two men will soon have the power to shape the nation and the world in the image of their perceptions. Also, when you look at their policies, the two are not as different as you would expect from a Democrat and Republican. They both more or less are supporting tax cuts, increased health care, financial regulation, and international diplomacy, even though they go about them in different ways. They both are far from the ‘right’ wing of politics, and let’s not forget that they are both agents of change. I, an independent, and a moderate one at that, fall squarely in the middle of the political spectrum and have given much attention to both candidates. I have decided that the difference between the candidates lies more in their private perspectives than in their public policies. It was mentioned in the second debate, electing a president is not about electing policies and promises, but about electing someone who’s character, wisdom, and passion will guide the country through the unforeseen future and the dynamic changes of the global landscape. So with that, lets begin.
John McCain is a fighter. Much of what will follow is a direct elaboration of this central fact. The history of a man is important, because like a vector, your origins play a large role in your destination. McCain was born into a family of military men who served this country courageously and achieved many accomplishments. His father and grandfather were four-star Admirals in the Navy, and he followed that same path, through the Naval Academy and into combat in Vietnam. In those skies, a force knocked both his plane and his life off its trajectory. I hope that we all know the story, he crashed, was beaten by a mob, rescued by the goodwill of a strange woman in a strange land, imprisoned for years in POW camp, offered release as a special courtesy to an Admiral’s son, rejected this offer and suffered away for several years until he was finally freed at war’s end. A story I find amazing. Evidently it moved him as well, because it changed his fighting from a physical arena to a political one. The goodwill of the Samaritan, the camaraderie of his fellow prisoners and the persistence against an evil force (from his perspective at the time) all changed John McCain from the future-admiral to a potential future-president.
Barack Obama is a thinker. I was torn to label him a number of things, from visionary to intellectual, but what stands out most is his instinct to think through issues objectively and thoroughly. Barack, who connects so effortlessly with his audience that I insist on using his first name like I know him, also has an interesting background. He was born to a Kenyan father and white Kansas mother, but was largely raised by his mother and grandparents after the early exodus of his father, Barack Sr. He grew up in Hawaii in a middle class household until his mother remarried, causing them to move to Jakarta, Indonesia, the birthplace of his new stepfather. Eventually moving back to Hawaii to live with his grandparents, he remained there until his college years in LA and NYC. After a short, but promising career in a research firm, he left this career to pursue his dream of community organizing in Chicago. After victories in these efforts, both small and large, Barack went on to get his Law Degree at Harvard, returned to organizing, became a professor of law, and eventually settled into his current career as a politician. Much of what makes Barack a complex person, more so than McCain, comes from the path of self-discovery that runs between these impressive accomplishments. Through internal battles with his racial background and with the absence of his father, Barack emerged with a deep appreciation for the everyday struggles that others around him were dealing with. This led him to devote his life to service and he intends to continue to do so as the next president of the United States.
Barack, the thinker, and McCain the fighter, both have compelling stories that force the electorate to decide between two competent and capable candidates. So how do their histories determine their perceptions of the present and future. Lets see:
On our enemies: McCain sees the world as a dangerous place because there are bad people out there that need to be beaten down or protected against. This view presumably originates with his military upbringing, career and schooling. Obama envisions the world as a place full of miscommunications and opportunities for cooperation. Obama learned to solve problems in the service sector where problems are solved through allies and compromise not force. Both know that we have enemies, but one is more apt to beat our enemies into submission and the other is likely to see diplomacy and strong sanctions as a path to peace. McCain favors the quote, ‘speak softly, and carry a big stick’ of Teddy Roosevelt, and Obama prefers the JFK ‘never negotiate out of fear, but never fear to negotiate’. Neither would fail to use force if necessary, but the levels of restraint and hesitation would be higher for Barack.
What this means practically. The prevention of nuclear capabilities in Iran, the sovereignty of Pakistan’s Afghanistan border, and the handling of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are all issues where these differences may become a serious issue.
On our economy: Barack grew up in a single family home with grandparents who worked much of their lives. He is a solid believer in the strength of the middle class to power an economy and believes that the job creation is the key to enabling that strength. McCain admittedly does not claim to be an expert on the economy, and I suspect much of his ideas come from his background of wealth and republican ideology. That being that capitalism is a trickle down process, as it is intended to work, and that lowering taxes on the top corporations and individuals promotes investments and growth. Obama believes that wealth is concentrated in the hands of the few and wishes to equalize that distribution, McCain believes that what a person earns a person keeps.
The extremes of both views are scary. Barack’s plan for redistributing wealth in this country borders on socialism, and McCain’s tax cuts for corporations and high-wealth individuals will almost certainly allow the gap between ‘wall street’ and ‘main street’ to grow.
On healthcare and welfare: McCain proposes a significant reform to healthcare, but in no way does his plan make it universal. His plan gives the American public more freedom to take their health care provisions into their own hands. By providing a tax-credit to individuals, McCain argues that the individual will be able to choose what is best for him or herself based on their personal situation. This plays to McCains belief that government should largely stay out of the lives of the American people, and that individuals can make the best choices for themselves. It is important to note that illegal immigrants, and those that have fallen out of the federal tax system, will remain unaffected or potentially worse off from this plan. McCain does not believe in free handouts, especially to those who are not playing by the rules.
Obama plans to provide health care to each and every individual within the borders of this nation. As stated in the debate, he believes access to health care is a right. This will bring American policies more in line with our northern neighbor, and also with our contemporaries in Europe. But this will not come free; the increased coverage will likely lower the quality of some existing health care coverage, and will cause prices of ‘designer’ health care packages to be prohibitively expensive. This does bolster one of the central philosophies of Barack Obama: it is the responsibility of those who can, to provide for those who can not.
Ultimately, McCain will attempt to preserve the American way of life as it is and how it has been. Obama is prepared to guide us into a redefined American Dream in which the old lines of power and privilege are redrawn. McCain sees the America as the rightful leader of the free world while Obama sees that as a right the world must bestow upon us.
The reality of an Obama world is simple. America will have to change, from the fundamentals to the superfluous, our priorities and relations to the world will shift. We use too much energy, exercise too much power, and consume too many resources in comparison to the rest of the world. Obama believes that we must equalize with the rest of the world, and there will be undesirable aspects to that change. Under Obama, America will not fight the ascensions of other nations into power, and as a result we will use our current position of power to teach others how to grow their power responsibly.
McCain believes that we have what we deserve, not because we are gluttons, but because this is the reward and the right of those leading the free world. McCain will ensure that we continue to do so to the best of our abilities. It is not the plan of the McCain presidency to usher in the new world order, one in which the USA is not the sole-superpower. McCain may imagine the world as a giant game of King of the Hill, where there can only be one leader of the free world. We will fight to stay on top of that hill.
Prior to going to the polls on or before November 4, investigate how it is that you see the world. Doing so will make your choice for President much easier.
posted by Anthony Jackson at 12:29 PM
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