US Presidential Elections: "Quo Vadis USA" ? - by RM

President Barack Obama

Last night we watched a passionate President Obama plead for his reelection. (click on link for full text).

Indeed the upcoming US Presidential election could be one of the most important for the US and probably the world.  In contrast to past elections where both parties usually provided middle of the road political candidates with similar political solutions, it will be the first time where US voters will have to make a choice between two clearly defined political ideologies.

On the left ( Obama) are the Democrats, an intellectually independent, inclusive, caring, broad-minded, multi-cultural, magnanimous, frank, open, and genial political group which collectively agrees that government should be a force for social change, to improve the lot of the disadvantaged and to protect the individual rights of all, regardless of their race, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. This group also tends to agree that everyone should have affordable access to quality education and health care and that the tax system should be fair without exceptions.

The Democratic Party in the United States traces its roots back to the early 1790s, when various factions united in opposition to Alexander Hamilton’s fiscal policies, which included a strong central treasury and new taxes to pay-off the states’ debts. Back then it was called the Anti-Administration Party, its subscribers were called Anti-Federalists.  One of its better know founders was Thomas Jefferson. At that time the party was even called the Democratic-Republican party.

In a way that was quite normal. The two party US political system until recent has always been a "blur" of political ideologies with bipartisan cooperation ruling the show. Not so anymore. Political polarization on the right and left is now the order of the day.

On the right the middle of the road Romney has now become the "reluctant" flag bearer of  the "new" more radical Republican political philosophy which supports the free market and mainly sides with business interests over the interest of the middle class, rank-and-file workers and environmentalists.

Overall they believe in the positive economic trickle down effect as a result of giving big business and the wealthy a "free hand" with limited government controls. .

But it has not always been that way. Today's Republicans are quite different from what they were in the past, when they were seen as moderate, cautious, caring and produced great Presidents.  The party also had its roots as the party which opposed slavery. Party founders adopted the name “Republican” to indicate that it was the carrier of “republican” beliefs about civic virtue, and opposition to aristocracy and corruption.

All that good stuff is gone. The Republican Party has become a party hijacked by right wing groups, including sportsmen and gun owners who consider their right to bear arms to be under attack, business corporations , particularly the defense, energy, and pharmaceutical industries, and wealthy individuals who benefit from limiting social programs, limiting regulations, and reduced taxes, as well as various fundamental and evangelical Christian groups. Together these groups have amassed tremendous financial resources and consequently also power to achieve their goals.

So far, however, one would not say that any of their actions have had any positive effect on the US as a whole or on the democratic process in particular.

Americans who go into the voting booth on November the 6th now have two clearly defined choices before them. The whole world is holding its breath.

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