dmiessler.com | grep understanding - Latest Comments in Contemplating My Support for Obama

Re: Contemplating My Support for Obama

Maxo — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:45:16 -0000

http://www.videobomb.com/in...vid/dn2008-0618256kb.mp4&title=Democracy%20Now!%202008-06-18%20Wednesday
You should watch the above interview with Ralph Nader. I don't think I'm nearly as cynical about Obama as Nader, he certainly raises many good points.

Re: Contemplating My Support for Obama

markdudlik — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:30:16 -0000

interesting*

Re: Contemplating My Support for Obama

markdudlik — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:29:26 -0000

You know what might be interested, and help firm your decision in either direction, is consider what is most important (and realistic) for you to have happen in the next four years.

What issues are the most important and in need of immediate attention. (For instance, I don't really see Obama's view on gun control having any relevance in the next few years, I doubt much will happen with that, given everything else going on)

So then, doesn't it seem like our rejoining the world stage is an immediate need. Doesn't his view on the war seem more important (for the next four years anyway) than the handling of illegal immigration? (Though it IS important, I'd rather have a new energy policy with safe nuclear plants being built again before anything else)

Maybe if you look at it that way, in what is most pressing for us as a country, you might see the benefits of voting for Obama to ensure there is no such thing as a President McCain.

Re: Contemplating My Support for Obama

dale — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:40:24 -0000

So you're just figuring out Obama is a politician just like the rest? He's unqualified and power-hungry.

Re: Contemplating My Support for Obama

Dave Largo — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:24:04 -0000

At this point in time I am going to write in Alan Keys for the office of the President.

Re: Contemplating My Support for Obama

Daniel Miessler — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:22:34 -0000

Perhaps I'll do a full post on it at some point, but here's my main position:

I'm not promoting the idea that nobody should be allowed to speak other languages, only that English should be the official language. That means legal matters, civil matters, public interfaces to government functions, etc. It should be English. ATMs, phone menus, etc.

This isn't to say that other languages shouldn't be available in many situations, but the primary interface should be English.

The reasons for this is that the various groups who are in our country don't like each other. We don't want Balkanization. We don't want separate groups within our country. We want a single, unified group that includes those who used to live in other countries. We want Americans, including people who used to NOT be Americans.

See my post on the melting pot for a better explanation for how I see immigration and culture-mixing in our country.

But the main point I'm making is that a fragmented country is a dying country. We have to be one people, and a big part of that is the official language.

Re: Contemplating My Support for Obama

Richard Neal — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:07:53 -0000

I usually agree with you on political issues, but I have to question your reasoning that English should be the national language. It's my opinion that America is a country of borrowed culture, and that just because the majority of the population speaks English, doesn't mean that the residents a state with another language more widely spoken should be forced to speak our lanuage. I'd love to hear from you about this, perhaps in another blog post?