The Debate ...

What an interesting day for a debate...

After spending 30 minutes waiting at the only functioning gas station near my house, I went to the grocery store to pick up some food for my friends and I to eat during the debate tonight only to find that my bank account had been frozen. My parents mentioned to me the night before that they were planning to withdraw a large sum of money from the bank after hearing that the banks were planning on doing something like this. My parents are now relieved they did but this is now a perfect example of a "catch-22". Bank of America is doing what they have to do to prevent people from doing exactly what my parents did, withdrawing all their money. If everyone chose to withdraw all of their money from the bank, the bank would inevitable crumble but, at the same time, we all cannot be expected to live without access to our money. I wish that Bank of America would have instructed people on ways they can help themselves in the short term while also helping to keep the bank functioning in the long term.

I wish Bank of America would have told its customers that despite the economic crisis we are currently facing, the worst thing they can do is withdraw all of their money. They should have recommended that people withdraw a certain percentage of their money and leave enough to keep the bank from going under. It is actions like this (freezing people's accounts without explanation) that causes people to freak out and lose their control under pressure. Bank of America is losing trust from its customers and now, the first thing people will do when they can access their account again is withdraw all of their money.

ANYWAYS, The debate tonight did not go exactly how I had pictured it. In the weeks leading up to the debates, I had pictured Obama OWNING McCain and although I think Obama definitely came out on top, I was surprised that McCain didn't completely buckle under pressure or have, as many political journalists are jokingly referring to as, "a senior moment". Now, do not get me wrong, much of what McCain talked about tonight was completely fabricated and contradictory, but he played his "experience" card strategically enough to fool the same ignorant people Bush fooled in 2000 and 2004 into thinking he has their best interests in mind.

If there is anything that hurts me the most about the Bush administration, McCain, Palin, and all of the others in favor for the war in Iraq, it is the fact that they continue to act as if "Iraqi freedom" is one of their leading motivators. It is because of "us" that thousands of Iraqi civilians are being killed needlessly. It is because of "us" that the citizens of Baghdad are operating with sometimes only one hour of electricity a day and are forced to adhere to a curfew. Since when is an occupied country living in freedom???

I realized a few weeks ago that out of the 8 years I have been politically conscience (I started paying attention around 16), I have felt completely misrepresented and cheated by my president. I am not sure how I would handle another 4... or, God help me, potentially 8 years more of the same. But I digress...

There is so much riding on this election. From decreasing our reliance on foreign oil to repairing our nation's reputation around the world. From ending a pointless war to spending more time making sure people can afford to stay in their homes and have access to healthcare. If McCain wins this election, I will be looking at 1/2 of my current lifetime spent feeling embarrassed of and truely resentful towards my country's government, and worst of all, its people.

Let's just cross our fingers that the American people will realize that "politics-as-usual" is NOT working and it is time for a change.


YES WE CAN.