Build a Better Platform

A good President builds him or herself upon a solid platform. The issues that are fought for are the things that will make life better for us all, and are actually relavant. Today however, the issues pressed upon Presidential candidates are pathetic and a massive insult to the intelligence of our nation. Those degenerative, platform rotting issues of course are abortion and gay marriage. Two so called problems, that every potential voter has heard about, but issues that only truly effect a fraction of the nation.

First of all I will address abortion. The issue is touchy, lives are at at stake and it is a serious ethical dilema. However, the lives involved are not even close to the majority of Americans. Abortion is also touchy, because it can't be universalized, there are times when it could be considered an abomination, and other times when it is necessary and serves a great good. Ethically speacking however there is one thing that I agrue is undeniable about abortion; according to John Steward Mill's theory of Utilitarianism, a president should seek the greatest good for the greatest number, focusing on abortion does not fit this requirement. Yes a President should value life, but also he or she should understand that extreme circumstances may arise where some things must be done. Personally I'd much rather have a President concerned with increasing diplomatic relationships with other countries, than one worried about the annals of unplanned pregnancy. Abortion is an issue, but not one a President should be worried about, let the sceintists, doctors, and women decide about abortion, the president's job is to lead, not endlessly debate ethics.

Secondly, there is the preposterous platform of gay marriage. THis should not even be an issue. What two people in love do is their business. In the chaotic hateful world that we live in today we should encourage any love that two mature, sound minded people may share. The President shouldn't have to come between love, and should not have to pander to right wing conservatives who are attempting to force their beliefs on the nation. As I have said before, the fundimental act that is universally unethical is to force one's will on another who is unreceptive to it. Yes it is fien if a person or a group does not believe that homesexuality is a morally acceptable lifestyle, but there are others who believe it is, and homosexuals do not go around forcing others to be homosexual, they respect the choice of heterosexuals to live as they want. No conservative bible thumping evangalist would argue against "treating thy neighbor as thyself." Therefore gay marriage is not an issue a president should waste their time with, it should be allowed because all people deserve the right to life, liberty and the persuit of happines, and THAT IS SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH.

If I could be so fortunate to have any of this year's presidential candidates read this, I would emplore them, focus not on those media pushed issues, but on those you believe to be the most beneficial to America, and the world as a whole. If your platform is based on those issues, you can not fail, even if you are not elected you will spread awareness, and get the ball rolling on the issue which you are most passionate about. Look at Al Gore, sure he lost the election, but he ended up with a Nobel Prize for the issue he was most passionate about.

Could You Spare Some Change?

All too often in my life I have so much free time on my hands, and I can't help but think, "what is so horribly wrong with humanity?" We act so strangely toward one another, trying to love some, hate others, and exploit who ever we can along the way to make our lives that much better. People regularly ask, "what will I get out of this," before doing any task. We are so self oriented as a species it seems almost impossible to believe in peace and goodness among people because even if hate were removed, people would still hurt each other. Some of the most deplorable acts can occur with no malice, or hate, but simply a person's desire to benefit individually over another. Even when people join together, united by a similar cause, the reason they are united isn't because they all desire the same thing for themselves and those whom they've joined, they just want the goal for themselves. If these people could accomplish their goal individually they would, but it is the necessity of others that makes them band together.

So then how can I ever hope for peace if people are just inherrently bad? Well for the most part we are bad, self serving, ignorant characters. Even the best of us are vulnerable to lowering ourselves to this pathetic level. However we humans may be creatures of habit, but we are also creatures of change. Trends come and go, and we follow them, shape our lives to what we may believe to be popular, then once the next fad rolls around, we change all over again. What if appreciation for fellow human beings were made into a fad, a trend, the "cool" thing to do? And what if as a trend it lasted, and became a social norm. Then we wouldn't be so deplorable after all.

SO what would be the best way to get this trend going? How can we change our habits, because after all at times it can feel good to hate, be agressive, make gains at another person's expense? Well if the true value of each human life were known and made clear, that each person has the potential to improve the lives of every other person on this planet, then maybe those people we hate, or look to take advantage start to look better, and more valuable, holding everyone to be as important as we value ourselves to be. Peace is not something that can be won with conservatism, our old ways have lead us to war, and change is what may bring about peace, but we have to want it. We have to take the problem seriously, and make the change happen.