The Other Issues

8 Thoughts on the Issues #8

Here are some short thoughts from what passes for my brain on a few of the other issues in the campaign.

• Energy Independence and the Environment - It's clear that our reliance on foreign oil is endangering both our security and our economy. Increased drilling of our own oil will do nothing to alleviate the pain at the pump. It will do nothing to ween us off foreign oil. Solid investment is needed in proven, environmentally safe technologies such as wind and solar. The government should finance research into clean coal and safer nuclear technologies. This investment will lead to an increase in jobs and will keep us from damaging entanglements in the volatile Middle East.
• Civil Rights - We cannot continue to pretend that our national battle against bigotry is over. It is to our shame that the current campaign has shown us that racism is alive and thriving in our country. It is obvious in the characterization of Obama as a monkey by McCain supporters. It is obvious in the race baiting of the Latinos by the anti-immigration crowd. (I'm looking at you Lou Dobbs.) We need a President who can heal this racial divide. Of course, racism is only one element of bigotry prevalent today. Bigotry against homosexuals is condoned and endorsed by states across the Union. The time has come to put a stop to all bigotry.
• Ethics - The influence of money in Washington has been destructive to the needs of the common people. The public should have ready access to who is doing the lobbying in Washington, and which politicians are being lobbied. We need greater oversight over the lobbying that takes place. We need rules that prevent government employees cashing in on their public service by joining lobbying groups immediately after leaving the government. We need stiffer penalties for the violation of ethics rules and laws. Who will provide this? The candidate whose campaign is run by lobbyists or the candidate who refuses to accept lobbyist money?
• Poverty - With the exception of John Edwards in the primaries, no candidate pays enough attention to the issue of poverty in our country. Our security and our survival as a nation depends upon the reduction of poverty. We must provide more jobs across all sectors of our economy. More of these jobs must pay a living wage. We must increase the supply of affordable housing. We must strengthen our educational system to give our young citizens the ability to achieve. We must restore hope.