Democrat

by Walter Onubogu

Created on: May 08, 2008

The Democrats are hopefully going to be the next occupants of the White House in 2009. I reckon there are a couple of reasons why the Democrats deserve to be governing the US once again.

1. Choice of a lesser Evil:

Why is the Democratic party the lesser evil, you will now say ? Well , let me explain. Although the Democratic party has and still does broadly represent the progressive and liberal stream in American society (since the Kennedy Presidency that is), over time in terms of policies it has shifted towards the center, on some issues I regret to say the Democrats have become as conservative as the Republicans (i.e at times pandering to big business interests, lack of commitment to implementing government funded universal health care so that many Americans don't have to rob a bank in order to pay medical bills, lacking patriotism to reject the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003 and not 5 years later during the Clinton or Obama Campaigns and so on). Many real left wing Democratic policies have been shed, only to be adopted and represented nowadays in the Green party's platform.

2. Foreign Policy Realignment:

In spite of what I previously said, it is relatively safe to assume that the Democrats will implement a progressive foreign policy in 2009, meaning that the US will gravitate back toward multi-lateralism,and so to speak seek co-operation with other countries , and work once again closely with the UN to address issues of global significance (i.e combating global warming, international crime, migration, poverty). I think this will be a positive development regardless of who eventually gets to pull the levers of power from the White House in 2009.

The Democrats will certainly reinvigorate America's standing and help re-establish America's credentials and prestige in the world. This is fundamentally important if you think about the fact that even America's allies are very unhappy with the Bush administration's arrogant posture. War on terror and the challenge it poses to the American nation and its reputation, can only safely be resolved under Democrats. More than Republicans they understand that fighting terror must also entail winning the hearts and minds of people abroad. Using brute military force cannot achieve that at all together. In the last 8 years the Republicans have made America very unsafe and insecure and have lied about it. They haven't left any stone unturned in order to quell dissent ( branding anyone who criticizes America domestically or abroad as a Communist or Socialist ), or trying to instill fear and deliberately lied to the American people in every aspect policy making.

Nowadays everyone knows that the Republicans are truly the advocates of BIG OIL and BIG Finance, and to that end will pursue an aggressive foreign policy that is based on a mediocre imperialist mindset of " using military power to expand empire and promote hatred and belligerence". This will recede after 2009 with Democrats back in power.

Under the Democrats we might even see the US re-joining the Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming and perhaps also joining the International Criminal Court, which would be great and show our commitment to international law. Moreover I think Democrats will resort to diplomacy without pre-conditions in order to normalize relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and perhaps come to some sort of agreement over their nuclear program. In addition the Democrats will also be more active in the global fight against world poverty and AIDS, and give more development assistance to Africa. All of this, if also underpinned by exporting America's soft power ( power of American values, i.e. democracy, international friendship, liberty, free market, popular culture) will go a long way to allow the country to regain the position and prestige America had back in the 1990's under Clinton.

3.It is the Economy:

Under the Democrats the economy is bound to bounce back, averting the full onset of recession. Why you ask ? Well Democrats won't be pumping billions a year into a war economy like Bush is doing to currently finance his little Iraqi quagmire and hand out contracts to his friends in the defense industry. You will see a gradual shift towards allocating public funds for expanding national education, reforming health care and Medicare, which is good for the country. I think the Democrats, given their control of both houses, will also be successful in finally raising the national minimum wage ( i.e impacting on moon lightning - i.e having multiple jobs in order to pay the bills) so that ordinary Americans can spend more time with their family instead of living at their workplaces. Work life balance must surely mean not killing yourself to pay bills so Bush and his Republican friends can spend more time playing golf. Injecting money into public infrastructure projects will also help to stimulate growth in cities and urban re-development. Overall reducing defense spending will free up monies that can be readily applied for the betterment of Americans, and not to sponsor corporate fat cats and corrupt officials like Bush gladly did in the last 8 years.

4.Optimism:

I think the Democrats stand for optimism and for a belief that America can achieve its national objectives without sacrificing its prestige, or standing in the world. This is something I think Americans really need to understand. A somewhat fresh outlook and a political willingness to implement progressive reforms will help to give back to Americans a sense of pride about how the country is heading. Republicans have nothing to offer as we already know.

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