In a discussion with another member of this blog, I came upon a realization. Not earth-shattering, but nevertheless, curious and interesting. The dominant discourse promoted by McCain, Palin, Bush and Cheney can be summed up thusly:
"Do not vote for anything the Democrats want because it will take something away from you."
In other words, they play on your fears. That you will lose more money from taxes. Do you really make more than $250,000??
That you will lose the ability to "choose" your healthcare, even if Republicans know you don't have any to begin with and they certainly aren't about to help you acquire some affordable, let alone decent, healthcare for you or your kids.
That you will "lose" your civil rights by voting for someone or some bill. Better to vote for a negative: vote against any and all things and people.
That's the Republican ticket in a nutshell: Vote against ideas and people, rather than be positive and vote for someone or a set of ideas.
Indeed, throughout the entire debate with Obama, all McCain could do was reiterate how people supposedly loved him and how bad he thought Obama was. But not once did he demonstrate a plan. About anything.
About tax relief. About healthcare. About education.
Voting for Obama means a vote for real goals and ideas. But McCain is just like so many other Republican politicians: make people afraid and get them to vote negatively, against a void, rather than positively for something.
Strange
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