Barack Obama

I strongly SUPPORT Barack Obama for re-election, and I urge you to do the same. Here is why:

The Financial Disaster
Obama came into office in the worst crisis since the Great Depression, which took over a decade to recover from. Obama has not fixed the entire mess, but why would we return to the party and the policies that created the problem?

The Stimulus
It is widely repeated that the stimulus did not work. How do we know what the situation would have been without the plan? I suspect it would be much worse today.

Republican Obstruction
The GOP said from the beginning of Obama's presidency that their number one goal was to defeat him, not to help the country recover. In fact, if Obama succeeded then the GOP could be out of power for 8 or more years. So regardless of the pain it caused, the big money went to work to defeat Obama at every turn, such as his jobs bill. Won't the same thing happen if Obama gets re-elected? Yes, but that hardly seems a reason to hand the keys back to the GOP. I think that would be putting the fox in charge of the hen house.

GM and the Auto Industry
Obama kept the auto industry alive, and those loans have been paid back.

Healthcare
I'm not sure Obama should have spent so much effort on healthcare in his first term, but he did, basing it on Romney's plan. I strongly believe that the reaction against the plan is largely fomented by right wing groups dedicated to defeating Obama, not thinking about what is best for Americans. I think healthcare reform, though imperfect, will make life better for Americans, and already is.

Government vs Private Sector
I agree with Clinton and Obama that the government has a serious role to play in solving problems in society. There are some things that business just can't do. Government programs have included such "socialist" results as:

• National Parks
• The Internet
• NASA
• Basic Scientific Research
• Enforcement of Civil Rights
• Clean Air
• Safe Food

I think there are many ways in which the government is too large and intrusive. But I think the worst problem in America today is the outsize influence of corporations on the government.

Environment and Alternative Energy
Obama has made it clear he wants to push for research and jobs in alternative energy, rather than just insisting on more fossil fuels alone. I think this is a critical way to develop jobs, get away from oil and coal, and fight global warming. I don't think global warming is a liberal hoax. I think the 95%+ of scientists who believe it are right.

Science and the Future
I think that education is the key to jobs for Americans. We have to lead in technology. We are bringing in people from other countries because we don't have enough Americans with high tech skills. I think Obama is pro-science and will lead the country away from the far right move towards anti-science fundamentalism.

Mitt Romney

I am strongly OPPOSED to Mitt Romney for President. Here is why:

Massachusetts
Romney was our governor. He ran by saying he was solidly pro-choice and pro-gay rights. He no longer says those things. He could have just changed his mind, but I believe he just says what will get him elected.

Healthcare
His only achievement in Mass was universal healthcare, because he thought it was not fair for some people to freeload the system. I think that he should have the courage to stand behind his plan instead of hiding from it.

Insulting Massachusetts
During the second half of his term he spent much of his time outside of Mass running for president and insulting our state. Not respectful, not presidential.

Prep School Bully
Mitt Romney was born wealthy and went to private schools where has shown to have been a bully. I see him as part of an arrogant wealthy elite. (FDR and JFK went prep school boys too, but always worked to protect the average person.)

Financial Dealings
Mitt made his fortune by playing high finance games with money, not by building companies and creating jobs. He is part of the problem with America, not the solution. He put many, many people out of work to make his millions.

His Agenda
It seems pretty obvious (to me) that Romney will continue the tax cuts and deregulation that got us into this trouble. We need to work our way back to the Clinton era of fair taxes, peace and prosperity.

Supreme Court
If Romney becomes president for 4 or 8 years the Supreme court will become so right wing that abortion will be outlawed. We will back in the era when poor girls got abortions with coat hangers. If this is what you want, you should support Romney. Except that he might have been telling the truth when he said he was Pro-Choice while running for governor in Massachusetts.

The Taxes
I do think that Romney's refusal to share his taxes is a serious issue. While his financial games are legal they are totally against the fairness that the rest of us live by.

Negativity
I think the GOP convention showed the the focus of their campaign is to tear down and demonize Obama, not to propose better plans. Romney won't tell us plans. I suspect a Romney presidency will hand over the country to Wall Street and big business, to an extent we have never seen. Average and poor people will be in big trouble.

Going Backwards
FDR passed some remarkable programs such as Social Security that have allowed many Americans to live in dignity. The GOP is clearly dedicated to ending Social Security. George W. Bush said that not privatizing SS was his greatest regret. Where would people be after the crash with their retirement destroyed by Wall Street?