79% of america's population lives in urban areas. 21% live in rural areas. if you want to win an election, you need to atract the urban population, not the rural. thats why obama won. I'm sure palin represents the rural people of america quite well. She does not represent america, though. she represents the lifestyle of under 21% of americans. Furthermore, lifestyle and culture has nothing to do with qualifications for presidency. If it was relevant, then we might as well have a campaign for paris hilton vs. willie nelson. You need to vote for someone that doesn't represent you for who you ARE [as a group], but for what you BELIEVE IN [as an individual]. from the things that you say, it seems that you like sarah because she represents who you are - someone in a rural area, who likes their guns, likes outdoorsy sports (hunting/fishing), maybe has a farm or small business, and believes in "traditional values".
I think that alot of americans are making a mistake focusing on trivial issues like gay marriage and abortion, and let those issues decide their vote. These issues are not there because they are issues relevent to the survival of society. these are talking points strategically cooked up over the years by both sides to distract the american people from the core issues. As I mentioned before, a true democracy is a sure road to ruin because most people are ignorant and choose the most charismatic orator over the truly great leader. they all want you distracted, because if you became empowered (through awareness) you would end up giving them a hard time. If you did your research, and examined what has been going on in the american government since reagan, you would be absolutely disgusted. Sara palin is just a puppet, a figurehead, just like bush. If she was to take power, I'm not concerned about her lack of intelligence leading the country into ruin. The deciders when the republicans are in power are big business and think tanks. The government does what is best to insure the continuance of the supposedly limitless growth of the american economy - It is impossible to have limitless, infinite growth. Sarah Palin will lack the intelligence - when and if the decision comes down to her - to judge what the advisors, lobbyists, and think tanks tell her and make the right decision. By herself, she is nothing, just like bush. It's about the people she represents - which have a corrupt and unsustainable world view.
although i live in an urban area, i believe that the heart of america and the future of America's survival lies within the rural lifestyle. Urban and suburban living is unsustainable. We have to return to small scale, local, community and family-driven economies which are centered around sustainable living - not infinite growth. American people are addicted to MORE...always MORE MORE MORE MORE. they want bigger, faster cars, bigger houses, more wider faster roads, bigger malls, more money, more entertainment, more distraction, more gagets, etc. This can only last so long. one day when the "era of cheap oil and energy" ends (youre seeing the beginning of it right now) people will no longer be able to live that way. People will need to learn how to survive and live in a more traditional manner, abeit with more technological help than our ancestors had. Republicans (democrats too, but not as badly) are driving us to basically consume ourselves and our planet untill there is nothing left.
So are you voting for suburban sprawl, urban burgoise culture, and a 7-11/wal-mart/mcdonalds/starbucks on every corner? (Sara Palin) or are you going to vote for something else? I dont think you realize this, but sarah palin does not represent the TRUE beliefs of the people living in rural areas - she just pretends to, by just claiming she's from alaska and shoots moose and likes guns.
Languishing in your ignorance will do you no good and get you nowhere in life. Ignorance may be bliss, but bliss is hedonism and through hedonism is no way to live your life. In judaism the purpose of every human being's life should ideally be to make the world a better place - to leave it in better condition than you found it. By voting for sarah palin, are you really making the whole world better? or just your own life easier? I like guns. I like wal-mart. I like mcdonalds. I like being able to drive my car for cheap. But is that what is right? is that the way to making the world a better place? or is it just going to make my life easier, more pleasant, and allow me to be lazier while making the world a worse place? I'm sure that somewhere inside of you, you know the right answer, weather or not you are actually willing to admit it. It all depends on how willing you are to put your own comfort on the line for a greater good.
I am not, by any means, saying vote democrat. I am saying vote with your brain and your heart, not your soft butt or your wallet. I'm saying educate yourself about what is going on in the world right now, and do what you feel is RIGHT, not what is the most COMFORTABLE.
