“Ready For Change”
By John Tait
Even the most casual political observers have been inundated with a common message from various Presidential candidates. The message which is written on signs and heard from the mouths of the candidates themselves can be summed up in one word: Change. It is, they believe, http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2939 which the American people most desire.
Mitt Romney touted his work in the private sector and stated that he is not a Washington insider. Barack Obama stood in front of a large sign which read, “Change We Can Believe In.” Not to be outdone, Hillary Clinton supporters held signs which read, “Ready For Change” while chanting “We Want Change.”
Immediate change is essential in curing our nation of its ills. However, major candidates from both parties will fail in altering our current course.Due to Washington’s devotion to free trade, Americans are left with little choice regarding an issue which has shattered many American lives. Although assured by its supporters that NAFTA would lead to economic growth, 2.9 million manufacturing jobs were lost during the first five years of the Bush Presidency. However, most major candidates are not willing to address the issue properly. Clinton, Obama, Romney, Thompson, McCain, and Giuliani all espouse free trade.
Illegal immigration has caused more anger amongst the American people than any issue thus far into the 21st Century. Both previously mentioned Democratic candidates addressed the National Council of La Raza to demonstrate agreement between themselves and the organization in terms of granting amnesty including the continual flow of people over our southern border.
While illegal immigration represents the American government’s failure to defend our nation, current legal immigration policy is an outright rejection of our people. Passage of the Immigration Act of 1965 denied America’s history of European immigration, causing the white majority to slip from 90% to 66% of the population in only four decades.
Despite the War’s unpopularity, no major candidate is willing to address the issue sufficiently. Both Clinton and Obama are on record refusing to promise all troops home from Iraq by 2013. McCain made an even more objectionable statement that troops could be in Iraq for a hundred, thousand, or even a million years.
Of equal significance, Giuliani hired Norman Podhoretz as his senior foreign policy advisor. Podhoretz is regarded as one of the most prominent neoconservatives in Washington. In addition to being one of the original signers to the original statement of principles for “Project for The New American Century,” Podhoretz was influential in advancing the case for war on Iraq and is currently in favor of attacking Iran. His statement supporting “the wholesale merging of the two races (black and white) as the most desirable alternative for everyone concerned” makes him even more dangerous domestically.
During the 2000 election, George Bush promised change regarding the existence of a moral administration free from scandal with an emphasis on reducing pork barrel spending. Despite his promise, pork barrel spending rose steadily during the first six years of his presidency before finally declining in 2007. Of greater consequence, Americans are still burdened by free trade, poor immigration policy, and an unnecessary war.
While some problems are discussed, solutions are not addressed. The ideas supported by the candidates do not represent positive change, but a continuation of our government’s most critical failings.
While change has become a common phrase mentioned by candidates and voters alike, those expecting monumental transformation regarding the days most important issues will surely be disappointed.