IT MAY BE THE LAST CHANCE

The 2009 presidential election may well be the most important one in modern history. The country, as well as the world, faces unprecedented problems from environmental disasters to a nuclear holocaust, to millions starving to death. Figures just released show one out of three Americans living at or below the poverty level and that is in the richest country on earth. For years we have been warned about the future of social security and yet as 2017 approaches (that is the year the amount being paid out exceeds the amount coming in) no one in Washington is doing anything about it. The cost to the government, i.e. the taxpayers, is now 1 billion each day for interest on the national debt. That is not to mention 3 billion people living on $2/day or less, genocide and starvation across Africa, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan that has tarnished America’s reputation with much of the world, and a administration that has sanctioned torture as a legitimate way to gather information. The Dark Side, a new book just released by Jane Mayer, an investigative reporter that has been nominated twice for a Pulitzer, is an inside view of what happened in the Whitehouse, after 911. Lies to Congress and the American people, manipulation of intelligence to support the invasion of Iraq, total disregards for the Geneva Convention and the rules of war are just the tip of the iceberg. Former Senator Hollings of South Carolina spent 60 years in Congress and has just published a new book, Making Government Work and he states clearly that much of a member's time is spent in raising money from special interest groups and therefore "nothing gets done".
I am not sure what kind of President Barack Obama would make if elected but I reject the idea of being too young, inexperienced, and the biggest single factor with many, that he is black. Doubt not for a minute, that many who would use the excuse of too young are really hiding behind their prejudice. In a recent CNN piece a man in Tennessee was interviewed about Sen. Obama and stated without hesitation, "the only black man I am use to seeing with change is a black man with a cup in his hand". Obama has consistently tried to elevate the conversation from personal attacks to issues but has had to respond to his being a Moslem, his not wearing a flag pin, holding his hand over his heart, ugly comments about his wife, pastor, and his former legal clients; the McCain campaign's constant attack and yet he has kept his composure. He was criticized for not going to Iraq enough and then attacked on his recent trip to Europe and the Middle East. His over whelming reception in Europe was criticized as being "to much like a head of state" and "too many network anchors" following him. But still he remains polite and perhaps the most eloquent speaker in modern history. He talks of peace, fighting poverty and hunger, acknowledging all religious beliefs, and bringing the world to a better place.
He has also on numerous occasions acknowledged Sen. McCain's great service to his country and simply states they have a different vision for the country. Some will say, "not possible" but I say, "why not"? Some will talk about taxes going up, others will talk about being attacked by terrorist. To these people I would simply say, look at the economy under President Bush, from real estate to the automobile industry, to Iraq and Afghanistan, to Halliburton, Exxon, your mutual funds, health care, and schools and then ask your selves if that is acceptable. Also ask yourself if living with 1 out of 3 Americans living at the poverty level is of concern to you. If it is not, then ask yourself "what has happened to your humanity". I have never been hungry, never been without a place to call home, never without opportunity, but that is with the grace of God. I could have been born in a different situation and I could be one of the three. And so could you. "Now is our time". Now is our time". Peace, hope, a better world will be discredited by some that will say, "absurd", naive, ridiculous, and I say, "why not".