I personally am not worried about the country being "polarized." It's always been polarized, from Adams/Jefferson in 1800, to John Quincy Adams/Andrew Jackson in 1828, to the most divisive election of all in 1860, to FDR's elections during the Depression, to Nixon/Kennedy, McGovern/Nixon in '72, Reagan's elections, and then of course the hanging chads of 2000.
Polarized is what we are as a country. (There actually was a time when the country was more polarized by which side of the Appalachians one lived on rather than North vs. South.) And somehow we move on, bouncing from left to right, North to South, East to West and then back right to left.
But with that said, certain elections indeed have had more at stake for the society at large. And it appears this one on Tuesday is one of them.
I personally think Ezra Klein's recent article about what this election really comes down to is a referendum on Obamacare, is correct. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/26/the-most-important-issue-of-this-election-health-reform/
Those close friends and family who know the personal nightmare I went through during a medical crisis in the mid-1980's, where while deathly ill, I had to wrestle with insane issues such as being denied health insurance while in between jobs because of pre-existing conditions, forcing me into financial ruin (and subsequent litigation against the insurance company, which I eventually won) -- probably can guess where I stand on Obamacare.
And how many can say they don't know of someone close to them with a similar story?
I don't mean to re-hash the health insurance debate all over again, and we can argue all we want about the so-called culture of entitlement and the threat of encroaching socialism, but I don't believe returning to the tattered health insurance safety net of the past is the answer for getting us out of this recession. While an aggressive capitalist in my work, at the same time I've seen too many cases where concern about health care actually stifles entrepreneurship, risk-taking and competition. Let's not go back there.
But I'm an adult, and looking at history I realize polarization means that the other side sometimes win. If that happens on Tuesday, and the other side eventually succeeds to repeal Obamacare, I'll just say that I pray they have a plan that's more than just "tear it all down."
(Even though this is clearly written on my personal blog, given my online presence for my employer, Chesapeake Systems, when it comes to the realm of politics, I feel it important to stress that the opinions stated above are solely my own and are not to be construed as representing the company or my colleagues in any way. Thanks - DRy)
Polarized is what we are as a country. (There actually was a time when the country was more polarized by which side of the Appalachians one lived on rather than North vs. South.) And somehow we move on, bouncing from left to right, North to South, East to West and then back right to left.
But with that said, certain elections indeed have had more at stake for the society at large. And it appears this one on Tuesday is one of them.
I personally think Ezra Klein's recent article about what this election really comes down to is a referendum on Obamacare, is correct. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/26/the-most-important-issue-of-this-election-health-reform/
Those close friends and family who know the personal nightmare I went through during a medical crisis in the mid-1980's, where while deathly ill, I had to wrestle with insane issues such as being denied health insurance while in between jobs because of pre-existing conditions, forcing me into financial ruin (and subsequent litigation against the insurance company, which I eventually won) -- probably can guess where I stand on Obamacare.
And how many can say they don't know of someone close to them with a similar story?
I don't mean to re-hash the health insurance debate all over again, and we can argue all we want about the so-called culture of entitlement and the threat of encroaching socialism, but I don't believe returning to the tattered health insurance safety net of the past is the answer for getting us out of this recession. While an aggressive capitalist in my work, at the same time I've seen too many cases where concern about health care actually stifles entrepreneurship, risk-taking and competition. Let's not go back there.
But I'm an adult, and looking at history I realize polarization means that the other side sometimes win. If that happens on Tuesday, and the other side eventually succeeds to repeal Obamacare, I'll just say that I pray they have a plan that's more than just "tear it all down."
(Even though this is clearly written on my personal blog, given my online presence for my employer, Chesapeake Systems, when it comes to the realm of politics, I feel it important to stress that the opinions stated above are solely my own and are not to be construed as representing the company or my colleagues in any way. Thanks - DRy)
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