The Independent Voter

It appears to many disgusted Americans that this political year has proven to illustrate just how polarized the nation's two leading political parties have become. The democratic and republican parties have uncompromisingly sought to define their respective camps as essentially being the antonym of the other. Each has made it their highest priority to place as much space as possible between itself and the opposing party for the purpose of providing voters with clearly labeled leadership options. They would probably prefer that those two options be labeled something like good and evil, though each would undoubtedly differ in their opinion of which is which. Somehow in their efforts to delineate their differences, the democratic and republican parties may have created too great of a chasm between themselves—a chasm that more and more American voters seem to be falling into.

Surprisingly, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that the growing new mainstream in American voters is now, by the numbers, the independent voter. According to an column by John P. Avlon titled "What Independent Voters Want," independents make up about 40% of the electorate in the United States and represent a political majority in six states already. These new numbers represent a resoundingly large and influential group of voters that just can't seem to find a home in either end of the American political spectrum. These voters may be able to accept viewpoints on specific issues from each party, but are unable to find enough common ground allowing them to identify with that party. These branded independent voters find themselves stuck in the middle of two American extremes.

I feel that it is this new emerging conglomerate that will become the essential deciding factor in the upcoming November elections. It has already been reported that a decisive number of these independent voters occupy several swing states including Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio. I agree strongly with Avlon in his conclusion that "The next president can unite the country even in difficult times if he understands this truth: Americans are not deeply divided—our political parties are—and the independent voter is a direct reaction to this disconnect." Indeed it is the overly polarized parties that are giving a national allusion of disunity and unrest. It is my feeling that the growing independent constituency is largely unimpressed with the edgy and quarrelsome partisan politics that have grown out of the past few presidential election campaigns. Americans are united—under the assertion that political parties need reform.

This weeks article can be found at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122445963016248615.html

The Way of all Empires

As most historians would agree, the story of humanity can in many instances be described as the Greeks thought of it; cyclical and repetitive. Of course many can hearken back to the cliche old phrase, "History repeats itself," perhaps recalling a history teacher or other mentor who may have used it. Indeed this phrase undoubtedly holds historical weight. One need not search very far in the history of any group of people before discovering clearly repetitive trends and tendencies. The Middle East is no exception to this concept. To the contrary, it may in fact act as an indefinite witness to it.

In reading among this week's most discussed foreign newspaper columns, I discovered a rather intriguing and somewhat daunting piece by the columnist Anwar Kemal of the Arab News. The title, "How to Fix the U.S. Financial Crisis," at first gave the impression of a small pleasant suggestion. As I read, I found it to be slightly more weighty than a mere suggestion. The article immediately began by referring to the concept of a cyclical history, bluntly stating that "The U.S. is going the way of all empires." Kemal continued by describing his suppositions that the United States has financially over-extended itself, to the point of endangering it's leadership role on the world stage. Drawing from the historical well, he cited two former empires of the recent past, as examples for his conjecture that economic meltdown brings political meltdown. The 20th century empires of Britain and the Soviet Union both illustrated Kemal's belief that economic overreaching, particularly due to extraneous war efforts, can easily hurt the international stability and political standing of even the most influential nations.

In light of recent years, I would be inclined to agree with Kemal on many points. Undoubtedly, the United States, at least at the moment, seems to be fitting the mold for the average declining empire. It fits nearly the entire historical description: economic instability, costly, controversial, and largely unproductive wars, crumbling ethical foundation, and growing international unpopularity. However, Americans should not abandon hope in their nation so soon. Even Kemal noted in his largely critical column that "There's still time for the USA to salvage some of its international standing and influence." Yet, the nation needs to see change before this can happen. It will have to soon extricate its self from those money spending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and return to a less aggressive and more conservative national budget. It is my personal opinion that the United States is in need of some serious self evaluation. A reversion needs to be made back to the traditional American identity. This identity is rooted in the tried and true values of financial discipline, investment in knowledge, and hard work. It is my sincere hope that our next president, whomever he may be, will make it a national priority to bring the United States back to that humbling position of cold hard re-evaluation.

This Week's Article taken from: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=115150&d=6&m=10&y=2008

Is the Presidential Race Really Worth all this Attention?

After yet another week of presidential combat and the dramatic closure of debate number two, it seems that the media, and consequently the American public are finally beginning to draw conclusions as to winners and losers. Headlines all over the country proclaim that Obama is pulling ahead in the race. Yes, in reality this new development is only a small one, and the changes in public opinion are minimal, just a few percentage points. The massive amount of attention that the presidential race receives from both the media and the public is simply unprecedented by any other political event or occurrance. In reality, the office of the president is only one piece of the greater governmental system framed by the U.S. Constitution. It is just one branch on the massive tree that is American government. In light of these facts, is it really so crucial that the citizens of America place this race under such uncalled for magnification? Is it truly necessary that we pay attention to every percentage point change from the latest straw poll?

I discovered this week a transcript taken from a recent broadcast of the popular television show, 'Hannity and Colmes,' which sought to discuss this very issue. This past year, a brand new book, titled "The Failure Factory" has been published with the purpose of realistically questioning the function of the office of the president of the United States in current times. The author Bill Gertz makes it the goal of his book to illustrate how "unelected bureaucrats are the true power players in Washington." Providing much historical evidence as well as current examples, Gertz ventures to expose the evolution of the presidential office to a state of unprecedented corruption. He feels that the president has become nothing more than a complacent figurehead who is completely subject to the wills of the bureaucrats. It is a point that I indeed can see as holding weight, especially in light of the seemingly petty banter that occupies a large percentage of the public conversation about this current race.

This week's document discovered at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,436842,00.html

Hope

A hair-splitting presidential election, a continuously spiraling economy, and endless international struggles--yes there are moments when one might indefinitely have a cause to leave the newspaper or magazine with at least a slight case of "the political blues." Indeed, a deeply contagious pessimism has saturated recent public opinions. Polls continue to illustrate the continuing decline in political confidence among the general public, both inside and outside of America.

As the nation nears the end of another presidential administration, many citizens are finding themselves scratching their heads, wondering what our dear president did with the past four years. Some (even a majority of) citizens are apparently convinced that the past eight years have been nothing short of political chaos and disaster. Everything from Bush's financial plan, to the war in Iraq seem to be under the most distrusting scrutiny by Americans at the present.

I must admit that I have in some ways become unwillingly absorbed with this extremely pessimistic political worldview. I didn't realize just how absorbed I had become until I disbelievingly came upon a New York Times headline titled "Iraq's Shocking New Calm," by the Time's Correspondent, Dexter Filkins. Accompanying the headline was the true attention catcher: a stunning little photograph of a jovial Iraqi family, full of smiles sitting around a glowing birthday cake. This scene was one that I never expected to associate with the deemed perilous and chaotic country that seems to exist within most forms of daily media.

The topic of this article is one that many would have deemed simply "too good to be true." In it, Filkins discusses the seemingly impossible changes that have occurred in the city of Baghdad since his previous visit to Iraq two years ago. He notes observing women in jeans--walking alone, newly opened stores and businesses, blossoming commerce, and a renewed and less restrained Iraqi culture. In Filkins own words, "It was an astonishing, beautiful scene--impossible, incomprehensible, only months ago." He also admits in the article that two years ago he was sure that "Evil had triumphed, and that it would be many years before it might be stopped." Yes, he too had been enveloped by this feeling of hopelessness for the nation of Iraq.

In his article, the author makes very real and honest observances that just happen to communicate hope for a war-torn nation. He sheds light on a fact that has become taboo among Americans: Iraq is indeed rebuilding and improving. The article notes that while American forces are still an important presence in Iraq, they are an ever diminishing one. The power to keep peace is currently in the process of being ceded from Americans to the hands of the Iraqis through an initiative that has become known as "The Sunni Awakening." By this new movement, the American forces are winning over previous freedom fighters, motivating them to lay down their weapons and join the peace keeping effort. This Awakening has been nothing short of a success, as many previously violent Sunni tribes have changed their focus from the promotion of aggressive rebellion, to the securing of national security. The resulting national security has resulted in an unanticipated blossoming of a peaceful and thriving Iraqi society, in which people can truly live again.

I am deeply inspired by this article. It has shown a glimmer of hope for the Iraqi future, and inadvertently for the future of the United States. Yes, as Filkins notes, the risks have not disappeared and the improvements made are fragile ones that should be guarded and maintained at all costs. It is a single flame in the cave that we cannot afford to let die out.