Letters to the Editor
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Major Differences
I know that anecdotal evidence is not "empirically valid." Nevertheless, I do indeed know at least a few people in their 20's, who have never voted, who registered this year solely so they could vote for Obama. These are voters who have never in their lives seen anyone in the White House besides a Bush or Clinton, and they don't like it. They're not stupid. They understand the concept of creeping oligarchy, as well as the threat of hereditary elitism to true democracy.
To say that there is no difference between Obama and Hillary is wrong. Hillary voted for the Iraq war. Obama was not in the Senate when the vote occurred, but he openly and vocally opposed Hillary's position, and, at the time, people said it would damage his career. He took a great political risk to be on the right side of an important issue. That's experience and judgment that matters, especially to young voters who are disillusioned with the way that personal political careers and party loyalty have become more important to our leaders than doing the right thing.
On one of the most important issues of the day, Hillary is closer to John McCain than Obama. She did not vote her conscience. She hedged her bet, at the expense of lives and money, because she thought it would help her presidential run. So why would I vote for her over McCain?
Also, Hillary's health care plan, while being touted as "more complete," is only so because she would mandate individuals to buy health insurance, as we now legally have to buy car insurance from private corporations.
I am all for health care reform, and it is an urgent priority. But forcing me to buy it from a private company--and garnishing my wages if I do not--was not exactly the solution I had in mind. Indeed, such a "solution" is outrageous, in my opinion.
I'll admit that I have not had time to thoroughly scrutinize each candidate's official position on every single issue, from farm subsidies to the Tamil Tigers. I think that most working Americans, if they're being honest, would admit the same partial ignorance.
However, on two issues that I easily consider to be among the most crucial--Iraq and health care--there are substantive differences that will affect me as a working American in the lowest tax bracket.
Obama would get my vote; Hillary would not.