We are all tired of it. In most modern elections we have had no choice but to vote for the candidate we least dislike; the candidate we least fear; the one we least distrust; the candidate who will do the least damage. In determining who that candidate is, we are often wrong as evidenced by the current state of national affairs.
Lesser Evil: Isn't it Obvious?
Every generation automatically believes they are experiencing current events that are new and novel. Because this is the first time they have experienced them, it causes the misperception that the events themselves are occurring for the first time. But people have been choosing the lesser evil since the very dawn of man. It is also the best way - indeed the only way - to make responsible decisions, not only in a political contest but in our everyday lives.
The simple reason for this is that no human is devoid of evil. We all have living within us the capacity for committing monstrously evil acts depending upon the circumstances. Most of us cannot know with absolute certainty how we will respond in any given situation that we have not already experienced personally. We tell ourselves we do, but we all know it's only a lie we tell ourselves to feel better.
Since we cannot know precisely what we, ourselves, would do in certain circumstances, it is impossible to predict with certainty how another would act. That leaves us with only past conduct and personal perceptions to rely on when choosing the lesser evil.
First, I want to be clear that the term "lesser evil" is being used more as a political colloquialism than a condemnation of a person's soul. Barack Obama, while possessing that common trait that lives in all of us is not evil. At least no more so than the rest of us. Political positions can be at variance with one's preferences without making the person taking those positions "evil." But there are many political positions that are definitely evil and they can reflect on the character of their purveyors.
Those positions are usually the ones that deal with human rights. A position that it is okay to torture someone is evil and should severely affect the reputation of its owner. Other positions, such as waging war without cause or provocation, racism and bigotry, disrespect for the truth and the rule of law, and a belief that it's okay to lie to the people who elected you until you get caught are evil, and they go directly to the character of the person.
Only one of two people will be elected this year, and only one is the lesser of two evils. If you throw your vote away on a third party candidate with no chance of winning, you will make absolutely no difference for whatever issues you care about. Your vote will not count for anything at all except helping to elect someone who is a thousand times less receptive and supportive of your ideas and the nation's needs than Obama.
Obama is the lesser evil because his positions and past conduct are less evil than McCain's. He was against unprovoked war with a country that posed no threat to us. He wants to end that war. McCain cheerleads for another century of death and destruction, another 100 years of bullets and bombs and blood, another 10 decades of deficits and dollar devaluation. That is a truly evil position.
Obama wants direct diplomacy with a world that is simply sick and tired of America playing the role of bully and screwing up everything it touches. The world wants Obama so badly because they want desperately to love the United States again. Most of them don't hate us, they hate the idiot in the White House and his policies that should disgust anyone. McCain mocks even the idea of true diplomacy. He says that's the kind of thing Paris Hilton and Britney Spears do. He thinks it's a bad idea for the people of nations around the world to love an American president. Opposing diplomacy in favor of war and "tough" talk is a truly evil position.
Obama wants a healthcare system that works for everyone. McCain wants a healthcare system that continues to work everyone over. Obama wants tax cuts for the middle class. McCain wants the rich to get richer at the expense of the middle class. Taking from the poor and giving to the rich is a truly evil position.
On these issues and many more, McCain has chosen the truly evil position - one that is not merely a colloquialism, but evil in the social and spiritual sense of the word. The closest Obama has come to a truly evil position was on the FISA "compromise." I was furious over it. He shouldn't have capitulated because it was the wrong thing for the country, but it is not inherently evil like the positions McCain has taken. I also have a feeling that Obama will work with the overwhelmingly Democratic Congress he will have during his first term to correct the FISA mistake and several other Bush-era edicts.
Obama's message of hope and change is one that is desperately needed right now. McCain has based his entire campaign on preserving the status quo and negativity.
I've seen some comments about Obama being the "Bilderberg" candidate, that he was catapulted to be the Democratic nominee because he was beholden to corporatists and the New World Order power elite. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Nobody even knew who he was until he delivered his stirring convention speech. That's when everyone took notice of him. He ran in the primary against incredible odds. He wasn't even talked about as a possible nominee. He beat the woman who had the race won before it even started, and he did it because he is the people's choice. EVERYTHING that brought him the nomination was because the people believe in him. They want him to be the person who represents them on the world stage. He inspires them.
When all is said and done, even with the disagreements I might have with some of his positions, Barack Obama is the best viable presidential candidate in decades, better than any of us could ever have hoped for before he showed up. He has the potential to be one of the best presidents this country has ever known. He holds promise, and that is not something anyone could say about McCain.
Fear or Freedom? Take your pick.
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