Amid a tight contest for President, one would hope there would be a serious discussion of the issues facing the country especially given the shaky economy, the troubled financial sector, a weak housing market, and rising unemployment. In addition to a myriad of domestic concerns, the next President will inherit two military engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. There is also the little matter of global warming to consider. And yet with such a set of formidable challenges facing the nation, the current Presidential election has been dismayingly devoid of substance.
There is little doubt which of the two campaigns has a vested interest in ducking the issues. After eight years of Bush that is ending with a shaky economy on the brink of recession, McCain is smart to avoid the topic of the economy as much as possible. Though McCain has declared himself a reformer, his plans don't deviate markedly from the Bush agenda. Thus, McCain is wise to avoid detailing his plans, because they wouldn't on close examination sound like change. Ironically, McCain has now stolen the strategy Obama used during his fierce nomination battle with Clinton. He has now transformed himself into a change candidate without feeling the need to discuss in detail what he will actually change and who will benefit. And because the media is so entranced by the various aspects of the horse race, it is letting McCain get away with it.
Because of the paucity of coverage of the issues, voters are bound to be confused. Will the middle class get a better tax break under Obama or McCain? And which of the candidates has a more comprehensive health care plan? It is questions like these that should decide the upcoming election. What does it say about this country that at a time when we are facing formidable challenges, we are stupidly focused on the inane and the inconsequential? There are substantial ideological differences between the two major parties, but the press pretends that this is merely a contest among two likable guys. Is it any wonder the polls are showing a very close race even though polls have consistently shown that Americans are deeply dissatisfied with the Bush administration? Because the differences between McCain and Obama have been blurred by the fanatical interest in trivial matters, so far the race to determine who will succeed Bush has been much ado about nothing. And guess who that benefits? Here's a hint...it isn't Obama.
If the current Presidential campaign were a battle of ideas and ideology, one suspects Obama would streak ahead leaving McCain in the dust. One would hope the debates will offer some illumination as to the plans of both major candidates, so the American people can make an informed choice. This is what should happen. In an ideal scenario, the positions of the candidates on the issues would decide the election. Let's hope the media forces the candidates to reveal their plans and priorities for the nation's future.
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