As the field narrows and the three primary candidates jockey for position, an often overlooked series of issues remain open for debate (in my humble opinion).
Whether you consider Obama, Clinton or McCain as the front-runner, who is the candidate where we have heard substantive dialogue on issues such as the environment, lasting peace or leadership.
No doubt the candidates have fired missives at one another over less substantive issues such as experience, fear or labels like, “I’m the real conservative candidate” or “I’m for the middle class.” I might ask that you consider the importance of leadership, lasting peace and the environment on our lives today and that of our children.
Who is standing up and taking on the oil industry and considering true viable alternatives to fossil fuel?
Who is talking about unleashing America’s greatest strength, our ingenuity.
Who is pushing the envelope in an effort to possibly launch new industries and countless new jobs for Americans as we lead this change?
On leadership, how many books have been written and how many examples have we seen that show the true value of those skills, traits and behaviors that help form the foundation of true leadership?
Who from amongst this group is poised to step out from the back and truly tackle this job not from one of a great tactician but the individual that can rally people to the causes so critical for our country and the world?
Who will harness the power and influence the job brings to drive the real change the world seeks?
Also, what about lasting peace? No doubt the candidates have all tried to talk tough about war, security and defending freedom (whatever that means).
But again, who is the one trying to cross borders and form consensus where the dialogue moves from spending countless billions on defense and war with its’ huge impact and suffering on human life while taxing the world’s treasuries?
As most issues in life, there are no easy answers but this should not preclude us from asking the tough questions nor is this some idealistic non-reality.
Recent history shows us people like King, Mandela, Einstein, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and even Bono are simply individual citizens that in turn shaped our world.
For example, the Gates foundation (along with Buffet) has quietly become Africa’s leading provider of critical healthcare donating billions and changing the lives of people on the continent.
Einstein who brought together our thirst for knowledge and the power it can have in creating real change and awareness.
And the list goes on.
So, as the election approaches and we hear the constant drumbeat on nonsense, let us step forward and ask some of these tough questions of the candidates.
One person can indeed make a difference.
Dan, this was great....you really capture the true heartbeat of America
Posted by: Cindy | February 24, 2008 at 04:52 PM