As I approach November 7th, I will be using the following to
evaluate candidates. While other factors play a role, these are my top five.
Education
Infrastructure
Global
Warming
Federal
Debt
Defense
Democracy success is dependent on educated
voters to evaluate candidates. If a voter does not read, their information will
come from “sound bits” broadcast on radio and TV paid for by Billionaires. An educated
reader can evaluate a sound bite by going to the internet and entering into Google
search and find a online newspaper. To get a complete view of any national
issue I read the New York Times and the Economist magazine. Another good source
for conservative newspapers is a google search “Conservative Newspapers in 50
States” An informed opinion must read about both sides of any issue
to make a rational decision.
The quality of our lives is dependent on the infrastructure that
is available to us. Foremost, as a product of public schools and land grant
colleges, I would have not lived the life I enjoy if they weren’t available.
This also has to include the structure (regulation) provided by government,
even though I find some of this structure annoying. The transportation infrastructure
system is important for our economic well being, is another important role of
government. But to have an effective infrastructure we must be educated
informed voters.
Global warming divides people into three catagories; deniers, skeptics
and believers. I fall between the skeptics and believers. Why? Because I often
see analysis failure by not viewing the big picture. Are all factors taken into
account? But what I do know for sure that if my carbon footprint causes global warming, reducing my carbon foot print is really easy. It is very
easy to drive a high mileage car and to use less electricity in our homes. All
reduction in our carbon footprint is a result of our past emphasis on education.
Always spending more money that is taken in is a obvious
path to failure. That seems to many is the story of our Federal Debt.
But debt can be managed! In fact, I will argue that the wise use of debt will
increase our quality of life. I have been in debt most of my life, but it has
been managed. We need to manage our debt and have a discussion, an educated discussion,
on our Federal Debt. It is my opinion we do not have a basic
understanding of economic activity and it is a failure our educational system.
For more on the federal debt, read the preceding blog entry dated September 14,
2012.
With this third attempt to write a paragraph on Defense, a
short paragraph will be followed by a separate and longer blog entree. Dwight
Eisenhower warned the electorate about the military industrial complex
influence on defense spending. This is a problem because building more defense
battle ships will reduce unemployment. But it will also increase the Federal Debt.
I believe the Defense Department is the most inefficient department in
government with many of the people within resisting change. Without question, Defense will
always be very important, but costs are amplified by politics and monetary
greed.
There are many issues
to consider but I believe these five isues; Education
Infrastructure, Global Warming, Federal Debt, Defense are the issues we need to discuss and give strong
consideration as we vote.
