Like the good little girl that I am, I filled out my overseas voting application available at Vote From Abroad.
I’m still undecided as to who to vote for. I’ll probably just close my eyes and think of England when I mark the ballot. I find it interesting when I chat with folks over here about the elections: Some assume that I’m going to vote for Barack Obama and are shocked when I tell them that may not be the case.
Even with his win in Iowa, Obamamania still hasn’t hit me yet. One of the reasons is his woefully Pollyanna-ish foreign policy plan listed on his website. Check out this snippet about Iraq:
“Press Iraqi leaders to reconcile: The best way to press Iraqi leaders to take responsibility for their future is to make it clear that we are leaving. As we remove our troops, Obama will engage representatives from all levels of Iraqi society – in and out of government – to seek a new accord on Iraqi Constitution and governance. The United Nations will play a central role in this convention, which should not adjourn until a new national accord is reached addressing tough questions like federalism and oil revenue-sharing.”
There is nothing on the page about Iraqi sectarian violence (at least I didn’t see it, so let me know if you find something), which is one of the *main* problems. And having the UN “play a central role”? No comment.
His education platform seems normal for a politician. I would like to see something in that section or in the Healthcare section about school breakfast and lunch programs though.
I’d also like to see some type of national free health insurance program specifically for college students (I’m dreaming, I know). I know that some insurers allow full-time students to stay on their parents’ health plan, but some have an age limit. I know that I had to hurry up and get my tonsils taken out before I turned 20 (21 maybe), but I was still in college. The national plan should include DENTAL!
Side note: I checked out my home state’s Medicaid program to see if there was anything there. Go to TennCare Standard (*uninsured) at the bottom of the page. Look at the description:
“Children under age 19 whose family incomes are below 200% poverty.”
What the (bleep) is “below 200% poverty”? How the (bleep) can someone be below 200% poverty?! What type of (bleep) is that? What, below 100% poverty ain’t enough?
Anyway, I know I’m being hard on Obama, and it’s because I really care. That’s one of my faults that I’m working to improve: When I care about a person and what he or she does, I’m hard on them. When I don’t react to someone, it means they’re not even on my radar. Obama is oh so on my radar, smack dab in the middle. I really, truly want to jump on the bandwagon with the brother, and that’s why I’m sitting here poring over his website…trying to find something to light my fire.
But I need something more than “he’s one of us.”
Or the Oprah Stamp of Approval.
Another thing is bothering me about the election in general: electronic voting. From AP:
“With the presidential race in full swing, Colorado and other states have found critical flaws in the accuracy and security of their electronic voting machines, forcing officials to scramble to return to the paper ballots they abandoned after the Florida debacle of 2000.
In December alone, top election officials in Ohio and Colorado declared that widely used voting equipment is unfit for elections.
‘Every system that is out there, one state or another has found that they are no good,’ said John Gideon of the advocacy group Voters Unite. ‘Everybody is starting to look at this now and starting to realize that there is something wrong.’
The swing states of California, Ohio and Florida have found that security on touch-screen voting machines is inadequate. Testers have been able to disable the systems and even change vote totals.”
*snip*
“There are no documented cases of actual election tampering involving electronic voting machines.
But in tests, researchers in Ohio and Colorado found that electronic voting systems could be corrupted with magnets or with Treos and other similar handheld devices.”
That means that, theoretically, someone can (bleep) up balloting with a Blackberry.
Suggestion: Have AMPAS (the folks that handle the Academy Awards) do the elections. Was anyone hollering about a recount when Halle won?
Image: PR Photos
Comments (2)
Obama came to Birmingham - the only candidate who has put on a open-to-everyone speech (as opposed to $1000-per-plate fundraisers).
I was going to see him, but you had to make a $25 contribution to get in. I guess everyone is doing that nowdays, but I was a little disappointed. I don’t want to make contributions to people before I know whether I want to vote for them or not!
@Karen - > Wait. Stop. You mean just to get to hear him speak you had to make a contribution?