by Laila Khan

Created on: November 08, 2008   Last Updated: December 02, 2008

The 2008 Presidential Election was the first election that I was able to vote in. Though my decision was quite easy to make, it was extremely important to me. I decided to vote for Barack Obama.My reasons are numerous, and well supported.

First, Obama'shealth care plan, which would effectively provide the same degree of health care coverage that is afforded to senators, would give millions of Americans the health care insurance that they need. The alternatives to this plan, such as McCain's plan for health care, would actually cause more people to lose their health insurance.

The second reason concerns Obama's plan to provide money for college in exchange for national service. As a college student who will be looking at tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, this would be a welcome relief. Not only will this plan benefit students attempting to pay for college, it will also benefit the nation as students complete national service. Whether the students decide to serve their country in the National Guard, the Peace Corps, or even through local community service, the country will be well compensated for the money given towards college tuition.

Yet another reasonis the war in Iraq. The war has been misguided and badly planned from the beginning. Obama, who did not support the war in the first place, understands the harms of the war and the need to set a time line for withdrawal. Even Iraq's government has agreed that it is time to plan for withdrawal.

Fourth, Obama's policies stood in stark contrast to McCain's plan for an almost-complete spending freeze. Obama acknowledged the delicate nature of the economy, and the great harm that would be caused if it treated as anything else.

Issues surrounding sex education provide the fifth reason why I voted for Obama. In my high school, sex education was strictly abstinence-based. My class of approximately 300 had at least 20 pregnant teens. I have seen, first hand, the failures of abstinence-only sex education. While the Republican ticket defends this failed practice, Obama plans to deal with the issue in a different way, by providing legitimate sex education for students.

My sixth reason concerns free will and choice concerning moral issues. I am not pro-abortion; I am pro-choice. I believe that choices that concern a woman's body should be hers to make. The government should not be allowed to make that decision. Obama mirrors my belief that the issue is simply a matter of free will, and, as such, he defends the right

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>