Today, I took a step across the bridge separating online political interest from the real world, and agreed to consider being a precinct captain for the Obama campaign.
Not sure yet where that will take me. I’m not a joiner by nature, nor do I think I’m particularly persuasive in discussions.
Furthermore, I’m not star struck. While Barack Obama is absolutely the most inspirational figure I’ve ever encountered, not all of his policy proposals are well thought out. This one, from today’s speech in Janesville, is a good example:
When I’m President, we’ll reform our bankruptcy laws so that we give Americans who find themselves in debt a second chance. I’ll close the loophole that allows investors with multiple homes to renegotiate their mortgage in bankruptcy court, but not victims of predatory lending. We’ll make sure that if you can demonstrate that you went bankrupt because of medical expenses, then you can relieve that debt and get back on your feet.
Specifying a type of debt strikes me as an abysmally bad idea. Obviously, if someone is struggling, those types of debts would ipso facto be the bills not paid.
Furthermore, considering that Barack Obama is actively working on health care reform, this is doubly bizarre. If one hopes to reduce health care costs to consumers (read: regular people like you and me), then introducing proposals that could radically increase costs to hospitals, doctors, etc. as bills go unpaid ain’t gonna do it.
Not a good idea.
But I still hit the “send” button and volunteered to help with the campaign. Why?
Because I understand how our system of government works. I know that although the candidates — all of them — are promising the moon and stars right now, presidents don’t make laws. I believe that our country’s approach to governing was created to encourage debate, discussion, and yes, common sense, and very little of what anyone is proposing will emerge from Congress intact.
Much of it won’t even be recognizable.
Obama has many good ideas, but not all of them are. He thinks out of the box, though, and I like that. He’s not afraid to consider alternative ideas because they came from “the other side”… and I like that too. Above all else, he offers us a chance to anticipate the future with at least some sense of excitement. I love that.
And taken altogether, that works for me.