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Election 2008 - The Historical Perspective

The election of 2008 may become one of the most studied elections in US history. Fundamental and structural changes are taking place:

1) Regardless of the presidential outcome, history is being made as one party plans to nominate either a woman or an Afro-American. If one should be elected, the change will be groundbreaking, opening the pursuit for the presidency to a wider range of persons than ever before.

2) The two party systems is being rejected and is in serious danger of collapsing. In 2008, nearly 40% of the electorate has registered "Independent" signaling the Democrats and the Republicans that their manner of government operation has failed. Nearly half the people are fed up with the so called "ideology" of the two parties, condemning both as greedy self interested groups rather than people oriented legislators. Since both parties when in power seem to ignore their own espoused ideology and values, the future could hold that "Issue based" politicians will garner this independent vote by promising specific solutions to specific problems. The far right and the far left seem excluded from becoming "king makers" since the remaining viable candidates are all preaching more moderate positions.

3) The vastly increased voter turnout suggests that there is a changing of the guard. New age, ethnic, gender and racial groups which had been previously alienated by the existing politicians are now facing socio-economic issues in which they see the government taking a leadership role to "protect" their rights and privileges. The old coalitions of voters who put people in office in the past, are now facing a new set of electors with a new set of needs.

4) The impact on Supreme Court Appointments could be considerable. Up to now the Court has reflected either a liberal bent or is slowly becoming conservative. With the new voters, the demand could be to abandon ideological based Judges, and appoint ones who are neutral and would tend to lean more on the US Constitution for their decisions. This could be the beginning of Independents on the Court.

5) This election may be one of those rare times when the people themselves decide to continue or end a war. The choice will be clear - The Democrat campaign will be for withdrawal; the Republican offer will be to "stay the course". This election, at this time, is relatively unique in offering the American public such a black and white opportunity to decide on the outcome of the war.

There are numerous other "historic" elements of the presidential race (such as a spouse of a previous President competing), but these are rather inconsequential in consideration of the vast, fundamental change that is occurring as outlined above.

Learn more about this author, Lorne Yacuk.
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