Mounting Tension as Voting Day

Mounting Tension as Voting Day 2008 Draws Near

As election date, November, 2008 looms in the near distance, voters' tensions are high. The current election is one of the most critical ones in election history, given that the United States is faced with serious issues such as: terrorism, gas prices, the war in Iraq, and economic pitfall. The contest is between Senator (DM) Barrack Obama and Senator (RP) John McCain, and each one has managed to pull political rabbits out of the proverbial hat with which to tease voters' morals, worries, hopes, and fears. Who will you vote for?

The issues in this election are at the center of debate and controversy. The National Public Radio (NPR) web site, found at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18437398, says that the recent housing issues and the President's request to Congress to bail out private entities like Lehman Brothers, can actually determine the outcome of the election (online, 2008). The proposed bailout, in the billions of dollars, is coming under heavy criticism by people around the country of both parties. Prior to this, the issues of healthcare, the war on the Iraq and Afghanistan fronts, global climate change, and immigration were each pivotal issues, which left voters undecided. Now, there is more concern about the economic climate and the proposed bailouts; Americans are angry, but it still does not give any indication as to which candidates will come out ahead in this very close race. Add to this the American public's strong feelings about the unstable gas prices that have taken big bites out of their wallets, and it clear that Americans are going to vote for the candidate who says the right things in response to their concerns and anger about these issues.

Senator Barak Obama's web site, found online at http://www.barackobama.com/issues/, claims that Obama has the "formula for change," and there is a very attractive marketing tool, a book, that resembles or is intended to create the sense that there is a written plan. The document is downloadable, straight to voters' computers, if they so desire. One page 15 of the document, Obama addresses the concerns of voters who are worried about mortgages and the bailouts. Obama says:

"Ensure More Accountability in the Subprime Mortgage Industry: Obama has been closely monitoring the subprime mortgage situation for years, and introduced comprehensive legislation over a year ago to fight mortgage fraud and protect consumers against abusive lending practices. Obama's STOP FRAUD Act provides the first federal definition of mortgage fraud, increases funding for federal and state law enforcement programs, creates new criminal penalties for mortgage professionals found guilty of fraud, and requires industry insiders to report suspicious activity (Obama, 2008, 15)."

This same report addresses every issue on the voters' mind: healthcare, immigration, the war in Iraq; and others that some voters might not have considered, like aging and civil rights (Obama, 15). It looks like Obama actually has a plan, but we don't get as much of the plan, as we do discussion on what Obama has been monitoring, and wants to do.