To worrywarts, wing-nuts, true conservatives and others who are wringing their hands:

Posted on November 5th, 2008 by ecthompson md

Last night at about four in the morning I had a “surge” (pun intended) of activity on my blog. Hundreds of people found my blog out of nowhere. I’m always happy for the traffic. About 20 or so people left comments on this post. All the comments were warning us real Americans of the dire consequences of a Barack Obama administration. This post will do nothing to calm your fears because nothing I can say can make irrational thought rational.

Barack Obama will not take away your guns. Neither Barack Obama nor the Democratic Party have any desire to round up every gun in the United States. If you’re hunting with your gun, good for you. Be safe. If you are protecting your home with your gun, good for you. Please make sure that everyone in your household is familiar with gun safety. If you are a criminal with a gun, expect to do time. Steven, Barack Obama is not against your having guns in your homes. He hasn’t said anything like this throughout the campaign or even previously. Put down the crack pipe.

Someone had a kooky idea that Barack Obama wanted to manacle the “little people” to the government. Nothing can be further from the truth. Instead, Barack Obama would like to empower the poor. He would like to give them the tools they need to go to school if that is their intent. He would like to give them the tools to be successful if they would like to apply themselves and work hard. Education is the key out of poverty. Barack Obama would like to give everyone a chance to use that key.

Ralph complained about Barack Obama’s choice to opt out of the public financing system. It is clear that we need to fix our public financing system. We will need a large coalition of informed voters to pressure our elected officials on the subject. What Barack Obama managed to do cannot be replicated by everyone. We need to come up with a system that is equitable and flexible. It is unreasonable for the American people to expect their politicians to raise a half a billion dollars in order to run for president. (I’m aware that Barack Obama raised more than this.)

Tim thought we were stepping closer to socialism. I would ask Tim to define the word “socialism.” We are moving our tax system back to where we were under President Clinton. If we were a socialistic system eight years ago, then, yes, we’re moving back to that system. One of the strangest things in this country is that people believe that all rich people have worked for their money. Some have and some have not. There is a segment of our population which believes that the rich deserve the salaries that they get. My question is what do the workers deserve? In a capitalistic society, individual workers are not valued. As a matter of fact, it is seen in a positive light to pit workers against each other so that they will serve to help you drive down their own wages. Monopolies, the end result of all unregulated systems, are by definition the only game in town. Therefore, you work for almost nothing or you are out of work. I suggested there is a happy medium between all-out capitalism and all-out socialism. There is a place where workers are valued and those with initiative, smarts and good fortune can make an extraordinary living. That is the sweet spot that Barack Obama is looking for.

Nelson, there really isn’t anything that I can say to you. Your thought processes are so bizarre that I can only recommend good medication. With lots of therapy, you could be able to let back into society in two or three years.

CK, I hope you lodged your complaint with someone other than my blog. There are several voter advocacy groups. I hope you got in touch with one of them.

Carla, if you are a Christian, how can you not always be in prayer? There is no evidence that Barack Obama will be anything but a staunch ally of Israel. He has said this. Barack Obama is also a Christian, so why would he persecute Christians. Are you suggesting that he will persecute himself?

Barack Obama may be a bust. Don’t forget that even George W. Bush was supposed to be a great president. He was not. Let’s give Barack Obama an opportunity…one he has earned.

Tags: Election 2008 // 4 Comments »

  • cinco

    It never ceases to amaze me how ignorant some people want to remain. You can’t change all these people. Obama can’t fix everything. He inspires me.

    And If I can do more to help my neighbor, to uplift some one, to encourage someone then he has done his job.

    Fuck the people who continue to hate.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Cinco –

    these are clearly the minority of Americans. Feel good great that the majority of with you, me and Obama.

  • margaret

    What is inspiring to me is the celebrations that erupted all over the country and around the world. It was HOPE that things will get better. The african americans reliazed that all ages and races had to have voted for Obama. So it was a true celebration. It wasn’t just one group of people. He brought all groups together and they can thank each other. It is the only way we as a country are going to get out of this mess. As for the commentors they must all be millionares that want to keep their money. However i am sure the millionares lost more money in the failed bank system than they ever would have paid to the government. He is only elected for 4 years then you will have another chance to vote again.
    Maybe all the idiots who won’t give this a chance will take off for another country. The price of airfare is coming down as well as gas.

  • Kylen

    I am a 45 year old female white protestant woman. I was raised in Tennessee in a community that had no african americans in the town and ran out any who actually wanted to live there. I was raised by parents who thought prejudice was wrong to a certain point, it was OK to be black, but you couldn’t date or marry one. Anyway….the point is I was never prouder of the people of the United States as I was the night we elected a man of mixed race to the white house. I never, ever thought I would get to see that in my life-time.
    It was great to see people make an intelligent choice instead of listening to the fearmongers and racists who put out just enough of a fear message to get some people to be scared of Obama.
    Anyway, Obama can’t do any worse than Bush.

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