Who is Really Going to Help You?

Well, the end of the most tumultuous election cycles in my lifetime is within sight and, by now, you are in one of three camps. You are either solidly behind one of the candidates Obama, McCain or Barr (Nader isn't on

the ballot in NC), you are undecided or you have decided to sit this one out.

For those of you who have decided who will be honored with your vote, I don't suppose that anything I say will sway your position with less than a week to go, but please humor me and read along anyway, alright?

For months now you have listened to and read a lot of stuff about the candidates. Some very serious and some with humor and healthy skepticism that hopefully got you thinking. No matter if you got your info from a major TV network, a newspaper or on-line you have been slammed with hype and spin. Yes I gave you a good bit, mostly in good humor and with a wink and a nod, but this week I want to just lay a few things down for your consideration.

We all watched the debates or at least the highlights. We have all heard the candidates and listened to the pundits fight over lapel pins and displays of anger, but there are some real problems we need to consider when we decide who we truly believe can take the lead in fixing them.

Number one, for many of us, but oddly lower on the list of issues than it should be, is the War on Terror and the two theaters of combat, Iraq and Afghanistan. We have an awful lot of our best and brightest over there fighting a war that has no logical end and no identifiable victory. I support what our military has done and continues to do, but the fact of the matter is, as long as there is one terrorist with one hand grenade running around, the war on terror is not over. It is based on a false objective, just like the war on drugs, the war on poverty and the war on Christmas. In World War II if you beat Germany and Japan you had victory. This time it's not that clear. So you have to ask yourself, which candidate is best suited to lay out a policy to bring the troops home with honor and be resolute enough to stand up to the joint chiefs when they balk on the withdraw while keeping us safe and secure at home? I worry about it. Do you?

Next, we have to face the fact that we really are in some kind of financial crisis in this country. It is causing problems for other countries while making countries like Japan's currency rate begin to improve to the point that the Yen is replacing the U.S. dollar in some areas of world investment and commerce. Bad deals and bailouts to save failed businesses, coupled with the roller coaster ride oil and gas prices are riding, are depleting the middle class and growing the working-poor ranks in a scary way. The person we elect is going to have to deal with this before our economy does collapse, and they may not have a lot of time to do it. Who really has the best plan to fix it?

Closely tied to that is the energy crisis. Like him or not, President Bush was right when he said we were addicted to oil. We are, but we don't have to be. We are America. Are you seriously telling me we can't find people smart enough to create new ways to harness and use new energy sources. Come on. Solar, wind, nuclear hydro, we can do this. Will one of these guys push this?

Immigration, both legal and illegal, is critical for the new president to deal with. Not only could terrorists sneak in the country, but letting folks come in legally, is putting a strain on our already overstressed economy. They don't mean to add to the burden, but it happens. Who is going to be strong enough to tighten-up the borders and deal with the problem on the streets?

Then there are assaults on our rights from the PATRIOT Act, rumors of redistribution of wealth, tales of increased taxation and fears of war with Iran and many, many more issues.

The bottom line in all of this is: who do you trust to deal with them all? Are you afraid of Obama's lack of experience as much as you are McCain's age? Are you more fearful of McCain's temper than you are of Obama's judgment? Are you concerned that if Obama wins and the Democrats have control of the not just the Presidency but the House and Senate, that there will be too much power in one party's hands, with no checks or balances?

It has been made a bullet point in this election, but it really might be true that this could be the most important election of our lifetime. The next president is going to have to deal with an awful lot of baggage starting on day one on the job.

We have to get this one right.

So take another look at each candidate. Please don't vote for Obama just because he's black or because he's young or because he's a Democrat and you are tired of Republicans. Please don't vote for McCain just because he's white or because he's older and has experienced more or because you are a Republican and you are afraid Obama is a socialist. Investigate them. There is still time and a lot of information on the internet and you're smart enough to separate the spin from the facts. If you don't have a computer try to get on one at the library or a friend's house. But do everything you can between now and Tuesday to get more informed than you are now.

Don't vote based on hype from Hollywood, or your favorite musical artist. Both of these men, and their running mates, have good and bad points. But who is really going to help you and yours? Isn't that what you really want to know, anyway?

Me too.