politics

I have always considered myself liberal. I'm not sure when I decided my political affiliations, but I think that I always aligned myself the aspirations of the Democratic Party. I like the idea of helping those who cannot help themselves. I am pro-life, because I think abortion is wrong, but I am also pro-choice, because I would not take away another woman's right to choose. I believe that adequate healthcare is a right that we all should share. Moving from Boston to Charlotte was a bit of a culture shock for me during the presidential election. I was used to a state full of liberals; where gay marriage is legal and healthcare is available to all (I was also used to incredibly high state taxes, but that is a different story...). Charlotte is a land of transplants and big banks, so there are certainly many who shared my politics, but many did not. In fact, when I would describe myself as a social liberal and a fiscal conservative, many of my Republican friends shared that stance. In the election, I supported Obama. I really thought that he could bring about change, but I also knew that it took our country years to get into the sorry state that we were in, and it would take years to rectify many of the problems.

When my compatriots in Massachusetts elected a Republican senator and shifted the power in congress, the political pundits said that it was a reaction to Obama leadership. It was a reaction to the healthcare plan that many people do not support. And maybe it was a more local reaction for the people of Massachusetts who are concerned about their state representation more than the overall political impact. Honestly, I was not disappointed. Surprised, but not disappointed.
I do support universal healthcare, but I think that we as a country need more clarity on how this will be funded. I firmly believe that no one should be exempt from the tax (especially the unions), and was disappointed to learn that Obama is willing to make concessions that don't make sense just for the sake of passing his reform bill. And I am frankly tired of Obama's attacks on the very industry that puts a roof over my head and food on my table. The banks are not the root of all financial problems in this country, so stop demonizing them. If the American people could spend within their means instead of over-extending themselves financially, then we would have a much smaller problem. But considering that our government is currently incurring a debt that my daughter's granddaughter will someday be paying, I understand why people would be slow to learn about living within their means.

In the meantime, I do not regret my support for Obama. I am willing to give him some more time. But damn, that man is a wonderful orator.