I'm one of those highly sought-after independent voters. The kind of voter that will supposedly be determining the outcome of the next election. The kind of voter that apparently Pres. Obama needs to attract if he is to secure re-election. The kind of voter who is supposedly the reason Pres. Obama keeps acquiescing to the conservatives, and implementing their policies.
For some reason, it has taken me a while to realize my status as an independent voter. I have always been a firm believer in progressive causes, and a very liberal voter. In my lifetime, I have mostly voted for Democratic office-seekers, and I was proud to cast my vote for Barrack Obama (I continue to believe he was the right choice in 2008). But I have also recognized for some time that the Democratic Party is too conservative for my liking, so I no longer consider myself a Democrat. After my last re-location, I decided to list my party affiliation on my voter registration as “unaffiliated”. The Republican Party says nothing that interests me, and signing up as “Independent” puts me in the same league with all those former Republicans who are too embarrassed to admit to their friends and neighbors that they are Republicans after voting twice for George Bush. So that make me one of those highly sought-after voters who hold no allegience to either party that will sway the outcome of the next election.
And as a member of that group of independent voters, I feel qualified to speak to Pres. Obama, and ALL the presidential aspirants, to guide them in what independent voters such as myself want in exchange for our votes and support.
(I'm going to be kind of critical of Pres. Obama here, so those of you conservatives who maintain that it is somehow treasonous or disloyal to criticize the president should step away now. (loud deep authoritarian voice) SIR, STEP AWAY FROM THE DIARY!! DO IT NOW!!!)
Here's what independent voters such as myself want to see Pres. Obama do to convince us the he deserves our vote.
First – We want to see action. Talking is not enough. Simply saying nice things about unemployed people will not convince me to vote for you. I understand that your legislation may not pass, but I want to see you make the effort and take action.
Second – End the failed wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. One this point, we independent voters are actually in accord with the majority of voters, both on the left and the right. There is no point in building schools in Afghanistan when we are firing teachers here in America. If I wanted to continue the awful policies of GW Bush, I would vote republican.
Third – Export democracy to America. I will no longer be voting for a politician who is a bought and paid for member of the corporatocracy. Election laws need to be changed to prohibit the inherently corrupting act of privately giving money to law-makers. All elections should be paid for exclusively with public money. If you want my independent vote, you will have to start the effort to retire the corporatocracy, and return our system of government back to it's democratic traditions. As with ending the failed wars of GW Bush, restoring our democracy is also idea that transcends left and right, and is supported by a majority of voters across the political spectrum.
Fourth – Uphold the law. Our constitution makes clear that there is one law that applies to all citizens. So why are criminals who lie to congress about WMD in Iraq, who sign off on the use of torture, who knowingly sell fraudulent securities, and who foreclose on homes to which they have never held the mortgage allowed to do these things (and in some cases brag about it later in books and on TV) without fear of prosecution? Pres. Obama, your administration has been pressuring those few prosecutors who have begun investigations into these crimes to drop those investigations. How can I or any independent voter in good conscience cast a vote for a president who does not respect the laws? I am sorry that it is some of your wealthy friends in the banking and investment business that are the objects of these investigations. Rather than trying to quash the investigations, perhaps you should reconsider your choice of friends. That's what this independent voter wants to see.
Fifth – Hot enough for ya? The world-wide community of environmental and climate scientists, some of the best thinkers and the best-trained scientists alive today, warn us that our planet is warming, that human activity is accelerating this change, and that food and fresh water supplies, and even our human existence, is threatened. The US military is sufficiently concerned that they study and war-plan the threats that global climate change poses to our country. It seems every month we spend hundreds of millions of dollars cleaning up after another one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” storms, the kinds of storms scientists tell us will be occurring more frequently as the planet warms further. So is this a good time to keep silent about environmental issues or defang the EPA? This independent voter thinks not, and my vote will go to the office-seeker with a consistent record of action on protecting our earthly habitat.
Sixth – Civil rights and fights. Even as America proudly celebrates the historic election of our first African-American to the position of president, civil rights are threatened across the land. Voting rights are being restricted around the country. Racist attacks on good citizens (ACORN, Shirley Sherrod, etc) are on the increase. Workers are striped of collective bargaining rights. Women are denied the same health care and reproductive freedoms that men enjoy. On these issues, the president has said little and done squat. Independent voters across the country want to see presidential leadership in securing and maintaining civil liberties for all and for all time.
Seventh – Fixing the economy. I understand that in 2008-2009 there was a serious banking crisis that threatened the global economy and aggressive and unpopular measures were necessary to support the banks. And I would like to point out that it is now 2011, and there is still a serious banking crisis that threatens the global economy. Now I am not an economist, but I have been reading the ideas of some of the most highly respected economists alive today, and I notice that none of the presidential candidates are following their suggestions. Many of those economists have suggested that the federal debt is less of a problem than the high levels of unemployment, AND that returning Americans to full employment is the quickest and most effective way to reduce that federal debt. Independent voters such as myself do not favor presidential candidates that make themselves willfully ignorant on economic issues during this time of economic crisis.
Eight – If you don't like the heat, get out of the kitchen. We independent voters are a demanding bunch. This is a long list, and these are all difficult problems. But we are not talking about electing dog catcher or town council here : The president of the United States is the most visible and most influential position in the country, and arguably in the world. If Pres. Obama or any candidate is not up to the task of taking on these many and sizable problems, then this independent voter thinks such a candidate should consider another line of work.
Ninth - Who are you going to vote for in 2012? GE/BofA or Exxon/JPMorgan?