Do Americans truly know who John McCain is? I don’t think so.
He can be described as George Bush Jr., the guy that is too old, a dirty campaigner or one of society’s elite who owns seven homes and doesn’t know how to use a computer.
Others may describe him as a true American war hero, a strong man who puts country first, the experienced one or my favorite: a maverick.
When looking at this election, two main issues stand out to most mainstream Americans and in particular to students: the economy and foreign policy.
The Democrats and Barack Obama, who led McCain by 9 percent in the Pew Research Center September poll, dominate the economic front.
The same poll shows 51 percent of Americans think McCain can better lead the country abroad through foreign policy than the 40 percent that thought Obama would do a better job.
What McCain is trying to do, and needs to do, is focus on tax and fiscal policy.
The aim of Obama’s policy is to distribute the wealth back to the middle class. He will tax individuals and corporations exceeding $250,000 in income more than those making less than that amount.
The problem Obama needs to address is his policy’s built-in incentive for apathy and lethargy.
For me, the idea of taxing the rich is a complete contradiction to a simple premise instilled in me by my parents: the harder and smarter you work, the greater the payoffs.
Yes, some will argue that assertion is only representative of a fantasy land because of the social structure of our society and the real limitations to opportunities. An example would be the financial hurdle of college that many cannot clear, which limits their education and ultimately their ability to attain good jobs.
But the issues of education and job creation should be the target of social policies and allocation of taxes not the collection structure.
Let’s say you are a plumber and your name is Joe. If you are thinking about buying or starting a company projected to make more than $250,000, you will be disheartened and your pocket book lightened by Obama’s policy because it may allow the government to strip you of your profits.
According to John Pepper, assistant professor of business and economics, satisfactory profit is the primary goal of any business. If the profits are taken by the government, the goal may not be met, and therefore it can be projected that there is no reason for opening up the business.
Is this the message we want to send the American public?
For the academics, this argument can be translated into John Locke’s argument that all humans are given certain inalienable rights, including the right to life and property.
When a person earns their livelihood by working and they are to receive an amount of money, they have a right to that money.
Now, obviously, this is not the way our current tax structure is set up or else individuals would not pay taxes at all. However, it does help me illustrate the point that the government’s influence should be as minimal as possible, and Obama will leave an irrevocable, augmented tax and social policy for the next president.
Not to mention the higher taxes on corporations will be passed on and paid by individual consumers anyway due to low profit margins.
McCain, on the other hand, seeks to lower taxes on corporations in order to keep jobs and aid American businesses desperately needing the space to compete with foreign firms.
The economy has taken a turn for the worst over the past couple months and has stricken fear in investors and all consumers.
The government did not help the situation, but it is laughable when people try to pin that on John McCain or even George Bush.
The Congressional regulation of the credit market was faulty back in the ’90s, throughout the ’00s and arguably doomed when Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were privatized back around 1970.
To pin the blame on Bush and Bush Jr. (McCain) is ludicrous, first and foremost.
Secondly, we must understand the economy has its own ebb and flow. And if this is the trough of the wave, it should be interesting and quite pleasant to witness and ride on top of the crest.
The maverick needs to educate the American public on this issue, and he will make the race much closer than it is currently.
Obama is attempting to open and step through the door for people whereas McCain is cracking the door and leaving the incentive for those who step through it to chase the American dream.