I'm Writing This Now, So There Is No Confusion Next Year

You might read my blog and think, "wow, this guy is anti-Democrat all the way". The fact is, I am not anti-Democrat. If there was a Democrat that was up for election and held some of my beliefs, I would consider voting for them. The problem, at least for me, is that Democrats running for election are leaning way to the left.

I had a discussion with a life-long Democrat last week. Being in Massachusetts, there are many around. As for his credentials, he is an MIT grad and is extremely intelligent. It doesn't make his opinion any better, but I thought you should know in full disclosure. We actually agreed on many points and as expected, disagreed on others. Basically, what I've concluded from conversations with him, and other Democrats is that we basically want the same things, but believe in different methods for achieving it. The life-long Democrat admitted that he makes a good living, so he should be responsible for paying more taxes. I maintained that people making higher incomes generally are paying more in taxes. I contend that rather than raising taxes on people to pay for all of the government created services, that we should be finding ways to reduce spending. I contend that our problems remain, are sometimes worse, no matter how much money is thrown at them. He agreed with me that there are many cases where there is no incentive for people to get off of welfare or government assistance. As long as programs are set up to provide continual assistance to people who do not deserve it, there will never be enough money to help those that do.

Understand that once you are labeled a (small c) conservative, people assume that you believe no government is necessary and you want to eliminate all services. If people just took the time to discuss the issues and why they believe in them without getting upset, we might actually get more done. I can't list for you the number of times I have witnessed or listened to a person with an opposing viewpoint almost get to the point of shouting and/or ended the converstation. This does no one any good and it proves in my eyes that the person shouting and calling names has little to stand on in facts and subject matter.

If you read my blog, you will read the many stories and videos posted on the net that convey why I will not vote for Barack Obama. It's not that I dislike him, I don't know him. I dislike the way he approaches government. From all that I have read and viewed:

• His ideas for taxing looks like socialism. Where he wants to make people "equal" through taxing those who have achieved more and providing it those that have not. This type of system has failed throughout history, all over the world, Russia being the largest example.
• I question a man who attended church with Reverend Wright preaching. All of us have seen his sermons again and again. I can't imagine going to church on Sunday with this hate being spewed. I can understand how racism can make a community, a race angry, even hate. What I don't see is how this type of sermon will bring together different ethnicities and races.
• I have a blog post about Obama's definition of rich. By his definition, I am rich. Therefore I should bear more of the tax burden. I can tell you, I am not poor. However, I work two jobs, and my wife works 2-3 part-time jobs for us to be able to live in our house, our town and pay our bills. We don't live large. At times, we struggle to make it. We could live in an apartment, and be ok, but does that mean that we deserve to pay more taxes? You can read the comment here.
  
• Obama wants to raise the capital gains tax. Now, again, I'm not really in a position where this will affect me, but is raising taxes the right thing to do when the economy is on a downward trend? To me, all this will do is cause investors to shy away from investing in capital.
  

The list can go on and on. Should I be looked at as a racist or a bigot because I won't vote for him because of his politics? There are many who make that conclusion.

I will vote for John McCain holding my nose. I, however believe Barack will win this election. I hope and pray to God that his choices will not make our country weaker and in a worse state. Unfortunately, I believe this time next year, we will not be in a better place, because I don't believe his views will work. I hope that I am wrong. But I will not vote for someone who will move our country towards appeasers and socialism. God bless us all.