Next President Faces Major Challenges
Election Day. It’s the biggest day in American politics. November 4th is less than a week away. It’s the day when all of America (at least the registered voters) go to the polls and cast a ballot for President. Today I’m going to do something some people might find repugnant. I’m going to try and influence your vote.
Is that wrong?
Don’t you want to hear what I have to say?
Don’t you want to know who I’m voting for?
Aren’t you the least bit curious?
This is a big decision folks. Not one to be taken lightly. When you vote on November 4th, you’ll probably make the biggest decision of the year. Do you realize the next President will be dealing with a whole host of difficult issues?
The biggest issue is the economy. Things are getting tough. Unemployment is rising. Consumer confidence is at record lows. The banking system is one or two headlines away from complete failure. The Bank Rescue package is $700 billion dollars of support that’s desperately needed. The next President (someone you select) will influence how it’s spent.
But economics strife isn’t the only area of concern. We still have the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those two situations alone are costing our country billions and billions of dollars every month. We have a horrible international reputation. Even our allies question our judgment sometimes. People around the world hate us.
Heck, people in our own country hate us.
Aside from international issues we also have domestic problems. These aren’t small problems either. Taxes, education, failing infrastructure, homeland security. The list goes on and on and on.
The winner of this election is going to have his hands full.
So let’s get down to “Brass Tacks” as they say. Who am I voting for?
It’s simple really (it always is). I look at candidates and issues in a unique way. I’m a bit of a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. Probably much like you. I’m a big fan of small government. But most of all I support lower taxes. This is an area where I honestly believe I can spend my hard earned dollars better than the government.
That’s how I vote. I find the candidates that best fit my views (Republican, Democrat or Independent) and they get my vote. Now, I’ll say this, some candidates are two sided. They appear to believe strongly in issues I care about, but they don’t really. Their track records don’t stand up to scrutiny. So my choices aren’t always the most obvious.
Oh, and by the way, I use my criteria for voting on every candidate. Everyone from the President down to the Mayor gets judged. I even use the criteria for voting on propositions.
Let me leave you with one final thought, before you cast your ballot.
Below is a quote widely attributed to Abraham Lincoln. When Honest Abe assumed the Presidency, he was facing a very unique set of challenges. Some issues we couldn’t fathom today. He had to deal with a country on the brink of a civil war. He had his own economic issues, and the social issues of his day were nothing to sneeze at either. Here’s what he said:
“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence.
And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.”
All solid words to live by. However, in my research I discovered these words weren’t actually from Lincoln. They were put forth by William J. H. Boetcker, a religious leader and influential public speaker.
Regardless of their true source, I believe Lincoln and most of our great public leaders of the past would agree, these are strong words to live by. I encourage you to reflect upon these prior to casting your ballot on November 4th.
Category: Bonds
