posted on Sep, 23 2008 @ 05:19 PM
Originally posted by DeadFlagBlues
Firstly, Bush is out. He's a non issue at this stage in the election. Simpletons.
DFB, it's the same people running McCain's campaign! It'll be the same advisors, the same appointed positions, the same thing all over again!
I agree that traditionally and in everyday life, we should never judge people en masse, but politics to me is different.
Example: I'm Hispanic and I live in LA. But I do not work in construction, and I am not illegal. Not all hispanics fit that mold. Same can be said
about any other race and whatever prejudices they may have to deal with. Another: Palin is a woman. But just because she is a woman, that should never
disqualify her from being VP or even president.
Political parties, however, subscribe to very specific philosophies and ideals. Not only that, they run in herds, meaning that regardless of who the
candidate is, it's the same people that pull the strings. For instance, I can assume that a Republican candidate will support Pro-Life policies. I
don't need to know what his/her personal position is on the issue. They ran as republicans and, therefore will toe the party line on major issues. If
a candidate did not subscribe to their basic political tenets, then they wouldn't be members of that party.
Another point: I agree that judging candidates/people collectively in principle is bad. However, before we can hold politicians individually
accountable, we need to shatter the notion for them that it is safe to vote as their party does (as most do). The only way to do this is to make it
very clear that if you toe a party line on policies that are counter-productive or dangerous, you will be voted out. This gives the incentive of
independent thought on the part of our political leaders.
The message should be clear:
If you vote the party line simply because of the letter after your name, even on failed policy or lack of direction, then you're out.