First Published:
“Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.” – Leonardo da Vinci
This is nothing new.
In America, a Presidential election is held every four years. Why are the 2012 elections any different than the rest?
There are diverse opinions of why “this” candidate is better, or "that" viewpoint is not suitable, however, I ask you, dear reader:
- Do you know anything about who you are voting for?
- Are you aware of what they stand for, not just one issue but all issues?
- Do you research the history of each candidate enough to know that your solitary vote is responsible for alleviating or causing continued economic downfall and suffering?
Are you even going to vote?
"Vote for Them" written and performed by International Slam Poet, Carlos Andrés Gómez @CarlosAGLive. Produced by Semicolon Productions @SemiColonProd
Here’s the deal:
Willard “Mitt” Romney: Republican Party
Promises, if elected: [See Mother Jones for Full Length Fund Raiser Video]
1. To form a committee to overturn Roe v. Wade, a groundbreaking decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 that ruled unconstitutional a state law that banned abortions except to save the life of the mother.
This promise by Romney means taking away rights [based on the 9th and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution], eradicating law in place, giving women no choice over their own bodies, thus regressing the rights of American society back to and before 1972.
“I’d like to see Roe v. Wade overturned and allow the states and the elected representatives of the people, and the people themselves, have the ability to put in place pro-life legislation.” – Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential Debate, New Hampshire
2. To fix the federal deficit, as well as a solution to health care, dismantle Obamacare [Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010] then to increase the age of future Social Security benefits past the age of 65. Romney also supports a state to state mandated health care system that forces people to buy insurance. Mitt also wants to give seniors a “voucher” for Medicare.
This means that once one [under the age of 55 and not currently retired] has worked their entire lives and paid taxes into Medicare [and other benefits] they must keep working until they fall down dead, are ill, or until a set age is decided upon.
“There’s no change for anyone who is retired or nearing retirement. It’s only dealing with people in their 30s, 20s, 40s, and early 50s. That’s the group we’re dealing with and saying what’s the best deal for them? It strikes me the best deal for them is to either buy current Medicare or to have a private plan.” – Romney on Meet the Press
3. To hike military spending in the name of National Security [a mechanism designed to protect the nation and its interests from an internal or foreign political, military and/or economic threat.] This is a 4% increase of the country’s GDP [Gross Domestic Product] that also includes a government mandated increase in active duty military work force by ten thousand.
Mitt Romney, former adviser to President George W. Bush, pro Afghanistan, openly advocates to keep Guantanamo open, pro Iraq, favors increased military spending, funding and occupation, pro death penalty, pro life, anti-LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] rights; this surely is a man who speaks of separation of church and state, rational good will, peace and equality for all American citizens, as well as citizens of the world.
You decide.
Barack Obama: Democratic Party
Promises, if elected:
1. To reform the tax code so that it’s simple, to have the wealthiest households pay higher taxes on incomes over $250,000 [the rate Bill Clinton utilized when President] the same rate that created almost 23 million new jobs.
2. No new tax breaks for the wealthy.
3. That middle class families never give up their deductions for owning a home or raising children to pay for a millionaire’s tax cut.
4. To refuse to ask students to pay more for college, to never kick children out of Head Start programs.
5. To never eliminate health insurance for millions of Americans who are poor, elderly, or disabled. To never turn Medicare into a voucher. That no American should ever have to spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies. That retirement is with care and dignity that has been earned. To reform and strengthen Medicare by reducing the cost of health care, by not by asking seniors to pay thousands of dollars more. To keep the promise of Social Security by taking the responsible steps to strengthen it, not turn it over to Wall Street.
“America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won’t promise that now . . . Only you have the power to move us forward.’ – Barack Obama, 2012 Democratic National Convention Acceptance Speech
The first U.S. President to openly advocate same sex marriage and
civil unions, pro choice, pro LGBT rights, a civil rights lawyer, and
helped regenerate the UAW [United Auto Workers.] With the help of VP,
Joe Biden, ended Iraq [with a promise to end Afghanistan.]
Obama has yet to speak directly about Guantanamo, however, in the very
least, we know what we are in for. We survived the last 4 years, the
next must be about changing America, in that, bettering this world in
the process.
You decide.
Jill Stein: Green Party
Promises, if elected:
1. The “New Green Deal” to address global warming and financial crisis where renewable energy jobs would be created by employing “every American willing and able to work.” This deal is to be funded by a 30% reduction in the U.S. military budget, returning all US troops home, as well as ending presence of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The secondary financial support for this deal is to eliminate “waste” in the health care system. This is supposed to create 25 million new jobs.
2. To legalize the use of marijuana for adults, regulating then taxing marijuana, then lifting restrictions on hemp products. Stein attended HempFest 2012, a pro hemp, pro marijuana rally.
Jill stated: “Poor people are being thrown into prison for the recreational use of a substance that is not dangerous, and that is a crime.”
3. To create sustainable building materials through recycled energy. To increase bike and pedestrian traffic and implement regional food systems based on organic agriculture.
At age 62, Ms. Stein, a physician on leave from her practice, was quoted by the NY Times, stating: “I’m now practicing political medicine because politics is the mother of all illnesses.”
During the Green Party Campaign launch October 2011, she stated at a press conference: “We are all realizing that we, the people, have to take charge because the political parties that are serving the top 1 percent are not going to solve the problems that the rest of us face.”
In August 2012, Stein and her running mate, anti-poverty protester, Honkala, were arrested during a sit in at a bank protesting house foreclosures. Google TV later attempted to block Stein’s campaign messages from airing in September 2012 because the ads included obscenity and foul language, yet eventually ran them because they complied with FCC [Federal Communications Commission] regulations.
Lastly, Stein stated in Grist Magazine: “If you put us [Americans] all together, we have the potential for a Tahrir Square type event, and [to] turn the White House into a Green House in November.”
You decide.
If you do not know about the candidates or you do not plan to vote,
PLEASE take the time to research.
Simple formats to find out what
candidate resonates with you can be found on 2012 Presidential Candidates.Org and the Gallup.com websites.
It is what it is, and if you do not have a viable, rational solution
for the betterment of America; then it is up to you to make an informed
decision based upon the choices before you.
You must decide.
“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution – take a bow for the new revolution – smile and grin at the change all around me – pick up my guitar and play – just like yesterday – and I’ll get on my knees and pray . . . we don’t get fooled again.” – The Who “Won’t Get Fooled Again” [1971]
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