As you know, I’m very into politics, and have been following this election closely. I’ve always thought of politics as being like sports, except that the outcome has real consequences. And in this election, the consequences will be very real.

I wouldn’t presume to tell you how you should vote, but I do want to share with you why I support Barack Obama. And just to clarify, all of the following is written by me – I wouldn’t insult you by sending some impersonal pre-written email from the campaign’s website (although that would have been easier, haha).

On the domestic front, our economy is in bad shape. And while presidents often get stuck with a disproportionate share of the blame when things go bad, President Bush’s policies over the last eight years have been of no help. Pushing for more and more deregulation, corporate America has been free to act in the greediest and most irresponsible of ways – to the detriment of employees, small investors, and the environment. And in this pursuit, John McCain has supported Bush every step of the way. And unless your household income is over $250,000, your taxes won’t go up at all under an Obama administration (in fact, your taxes will probably go down). And, if you are lucky enough to make over $250,000, your tax rate will simply return to what it was before the Bush tax cut.

Looking at healthcare, it is unfathomable that over 45 million Americans don’t have health insurance. And it’s a travesty that over half of all personal bankruptcies in the U.S. are the result of medical bills. While it’s hard to simplify and summarize Obama’s plan, here is the basic idea: if you currently have health insurance, you can keep it and nothing will change (you can keep your doctor/s and your premiums will most likely go down). People who don’t have health insurance will be able to buy into a national health insurance program. Additionally, Obama will require health insurance companies to cover all Americans – regardless of any pre-existing conditions (his own mother had to fight her insurance company over whether her cancer was a pre-existing condition). His plan isn’t cheap, but it’s paid for by a strong focus on reducing costs (an emphasis on prevention, getting rid of paper medical records, increasing competition in the insurance industry, and preventing drug companies from blocking access to generic prescriptions). This isn’t an easy problem to solve, but Obama’s plan is very solid.

Switching over to foreign policy, America’s standing in the global community isn’t so hot right now. While it’s expected that our president will act in America’s self-interest, doing so with arrogance and disrespect is counterproductive. It’s no secret that the world loves Obama, and that’s a good thing. His charisma, vitality, intelligence, and the simple fact that he hasn’t been a Bush supporter, will do wonders for our image abroad – in turn making it much easier for the U.S. to build coalitions and gain the support of foreign leaders as we pursue our priorities.

Iraq is still a mess. The surge was an improvement, but continuing to keep our troops in Iraq at such high levels is unsustainable – we simply cannot afford the cost (in human life and American tax dollars). Obama wants to begin bringing the troops home – doing so in as prudent a way as possible. Likewise, he also wants to refocus our attention on Afghanistan (you know, the place where the terrorists actually live). McCain on the other hand believes we should stay in Iraq until we “win” – a goal that while admirable, is totally unrealistic and therefore irresponsible.

Looking at the two candidates on a personal level, I cannot help but admire John McCain. The story of his service in Vietnam is a story of true heroism and patriotism. Whatever I may think of his policies, he has my respect. With that said, I am troubled by the judgment he has shown in this campaign. Sarah Palin, while entertaining, is in no way qualified to take over the presidency; and picking her as his running mate showed how willing McCain is to bet everything on a whim. And during these past few weeks, as the true seriousness of the economic situation began to reveal itself, McCain has shown himself to be erratic and frantic; switching from one policy to the next, looking for a quick fix and political score. Obama on the other hand, took time to understand the situation, and then added to the process where he could be of real help. In a crisis, I want my president to act with a steady and measured hand, and on this test, Obama passed with flying colors.

This election is important, and because you’re important to me, I wanted to share my thoughts. I hope they were of some use.