Ok Bros,
Who matches up most with the common good?
With John Rawls' theory of justice?
You tell me. You tell each other.
Let the political discourse begin.
Post away...
President Peach
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"It is our inward journey that leads us through time—forward or back, seldom in a straight line, most often spiraling. Each of us is moving, changing with respect to others. As we discover, remember; remembering, we discover; and most intensely do we experience this when our separate journeys converge."
10 comments:
Liam Halferty
Brother Rob Peach, FSC
Eng 165/Writing the Essay
October 29, 2008
The Next President of the Common Good
Now entering into the home stretch, the 2008 election is sure to be a close one. Both candidates, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and Senator John McCain of Arizona, are ultimately seeking to obtain what they believe is the common good for our country, the United States of America. Although I believe that Senator McCain would be a slightly better president than our current president, George Bush, I know that Barack Obama will improve most aspects of our government and country by leaps and bounds. Obama is certainly a well-qualified candidate for the presidency, graduating from both Columbia University and Harvard School of Law. He has also served not only in the U.S. Senate but in the Illinois State Senate as well. Senator Barack Obama proposes what I believe is a fair and just platform in which aspects perceived by John Rawls in his book, Theory of Justice, can be achieved by our nation.
John Rawls explains this concept of reaching a common good, which upholds an ideal of justice. He states that in order for this ideal to be reached, all individuals within the society must agree upon various social aspects and that these aspects of the society must be fair and just to all people. To begin this state of a common good, an initial situation must take place, in which the agreement or contract of the fair and just aspects is conducted. Although this is an ideal government, there would still be room for improvement, and these problems that occur within the nation would be resolved through meeting and discussion, to make the problem right and beneficial to all citizens. The United States is in some ways close to achieving the common good, and in other ways very far from it. In terms of the various social issues that the candidates support, this idea of justice and fairness is what goal they are attempting to obtain.
Of these social issues attaining to the platform of the common good, the most important within the nation are establishing justice and promoting the general welfare. The key element in establishing justice is protecting the lives of the citizens. In order for this to become successful, the leader of the nation must “promote economic equity, ensure human rights, and eliminate all forms of exploitation and discrimination” (Common Good). This would create a more communal society rather than divided.
Both the leaders of the nation and the citizens within are called to promote the general welfare of their country. We are all called by God to “protect life and all of the systems and supports that are required for life and human dignity” (Common Good). All people are taught to respect others and the things around us, work to better the culture of life, and to help all those in need. The two candidates are promoting each of their respective ideas of improving the general welfare, of not only our countries but other countries as well.
A few of the most important issues when speaking of the election include the economy, education, and healthcare. Regarding the economy, Senator John McCain supports tax cuts for the upper class, or for those with a family net income of $250,000 or more. He also wishes to cut corporate tax from 35% to 25%. He supports school competition as a way to improve the quality of education, as well as higher tax deduction for Education Savings Accounts. Finally, when referring to McCain’s view on healthcare, he supports tax credits for people that purchase their own individual health insurance. McCain also would like states to create insurance pools in which insurance can be given to those who either do not have it or are hard to insure.
Senator Barack Obama wishes to grant tax cuts for the middle class, senior citizens, and the poor. He wishes to create a tax large businesses much more than now, to eliminate abusive shelters, and to streamline the tax system. Obama supports an increase in teacher’s pay, as well as Head Start and Early Start funding to cover at-risk children. He also wishes to decrease the dropout rate by creating carious learning programs to inform young students on the importance of education. Finally, Obama supports the idea of quality healthcare being available to all people. He also supports tax credits for low and middle-class families to ensure their financial situations are stable enough to be eligible for insurability.
Obama’s policies meet the ideal of the common good because they ensure that most citizens will be entitled to receive healthcare, a quality education, and some sort of tax relief. His ideas are both fair and just for all citizens, whether rich, poor, or somewhere in between. Rawls’ theory, which promotes equality and the cooperation of citizens, is much like Obama’s campaign, which promotes equality in a way that John McCain’s campaign does not. While Obama supports making necessities as healthcare and college tuition affordable to all, McCain just simply wants to give tax credits to those that purchase healthcare. Obama’s view on foreign policy is very similar to what Rawls theory states, that there should be a system of diplomacy rather than immediate military action. Obama wishes to withdraw all combatants out of Iraq within 16 months, while McCain is a supporter of the war and is not in favor of ending it.
In my opinion, the idea of justice as fairness can be applied across the board of Barack Obama’s social political views concerning the common good. His campaign not only promotes the general welfare and most definitely establishes justice among the citizens of the United States. If he is elected the next president of our country, he will improve the social aspects of the government greatly, and this improvement will be directly related to the ideal of the common good.
Corey Kramer
Bro. Robert Peach FSC
ENG 165/Writing the Essay
October 29, 2008
John McCain, the Republican candidate, who supports tax cuts for the wealthy, the War in Iraq, and voted against funding renewable energy. Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate, who supports tax cuts for the middle class and the poor, vows to have troops out of Iraq in sixteen months, and supports investing one hundred and fifty billion dollars towards renewable energy. The choice to me is clear.
Rawls theory of justice calls for equality in all aspects of our society such as basic rights and duties. It also calls for equality in wealth and authority. To me, this is almost an unreachable goal for multiple reasons. The way I see it is there will always be prejudices and inequality in our society regardless of what laws say. Also equality in wealth is an unfair goal because some work harder than others so the hard workers deserve to be rewarded, unlike the slackers and couch potatoes in our society that do not work or have any determination to become wealthier. So although some parts of Rawls theory sounds to be a good goal, I also think that some parts are unfair and unjust to the hard workers in our society that earn their wealth the hard way.
Some facets of the common good are welfare, minimum wage, healthcare, and regulating the domestic economy. I think all of these are a good start to reaching Rawls Theory but the most important facet of all is equality and the elimination of prejudices. For example we need to eliminate the prejudice that all people of the Muslim religion are terrorists. If equality and elimination of prejudices are achieved, then I believe the process in completing Rawls theory would be well on its way.
Some facets of John McCain are that he has experience to be the president. He has a good understand of foreign policy. McCain seems to be eerily similar to President Bush and his facets which include support for the War in Iraq. McCain puts border security as his first priority. He also supports a ban on abortion except for rape. He calls for tax cuts for people who make over $250,000 a year and voted against funding renewable energy. These facets show the basic platform of John McCain.
Facets of Barack Obama include supports a path to citizenship for immigrants if they learn English and meet the demands for a job. He pledges to withdraw the troops from Iraq. He Co-sponsored a bill to create the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund to build 1.5 million units over a ten year span. He supports investing 150 billion dollars towards renewable energy and also supports tax cuts for the middle class and the poor. These are the facets of Obama’s platform to be the next president of the United States.
John McCain’s facets, to me, foreshadow a repeat of what we went through in the last eight years with President Bush which was not a good eight years. He plans to have tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 which would serve as no use to the common good which includes the middle class and the poor. He plans the keep our troops in Iraq which is putting our country more and more in debt and also voted against funding for renewable energy while gas prices continue to get out of hand.
I believe Barack Obama’s facets show a change for the better. He vows the have our troops out of Iraq in sixteen moths leading to less of our tax money being spent on the war eventually resulting in the resurrection of our economy. He supports tax cuts for the middle class and the poor showing fairness which links back to the common good. Obama also supports investing 150 billion dollars towards renewable energy which will lead to gas prices falling which will also be good for our economy. With that said, Barack Obama would most definitely receive my vote.
With that said, I believe Barack Obama would be the best president for this country. Although John McCain may have an advantage in the experience category, Obama’s facets show a quicker resolution for our country’s current hardship and they also put our country in a better situation for the future. All in all, I think Barack Obama is the best man to put our country on the right path towards Rawls Theory of Justice.
Chris Galiardi
Bro Robert Peach FSC
Eng 165/Writing the Essay
October 29, 2008
In this years election John McCain and Barack Obama are the two presidential candidates. John McCain is the Republican candidate and was the Governor of Arizona. Barrack Obama is the Democratic candidate and was the Governor of Illinois. Keeping Rawls Theory of justice in mind, I believe that because of his proposed foreign policy and views on life John McCain is the best choice to be our next President.
John Rawls, an American philosopher, developed concepts of the ideal of justice as fairness. He proposed that all individuals should have equal rights. He stated this by saying, “The first principle requires equality in the assignment of basic rights and duties, while the second holds that social economic inequalities, for example inequalities of wealth and authority , are just only if they result in compensation benefits for everyone, and in particular for the least advantaged members of society” (Bro Peach). This means that for people to have fairness we must each have our basic rights met and that wealth should be available to all.
The Preamble to the Constitution is a platform for the common good. It tells us that “We the people of the United States are called to establish justice” (Common Good). This means that we must protect life, promote economic equity, ensure human right, eliminate discrimination and eliminate any laws that do not meet these criteria. We must develop strong communities that can support families and give us a crime and violence free society. We also need to develop an ethical foreign policy that promotes compromise over war. Another need is the promotion and protection of life which requires life and human dignity. Lastly we must manage our resources and maintain rather than abuse our planet.
The three facets I would like to detail for each candidate are economy, foreign policy, and life. John McCain’s facets are moderate. His plan for the economy is to cut taxes for those who make over 250,000 dollars, maintaining cuts to capital gains, and cutting corporate taxes from 35 to 25 percent. His foreign policy is supporting the President’s Emergency Plans for AIDS Relief and eradicating malaria in Africa. He also has no position on the Millennium Development Goals, supports the development of a missile defense system, and supports reducing nuclear stockpile. His views on life are supporting state level abortion bans except for rape, incest and risk to mother’s life and he also supports the death sentence.
Unlike McCain, Barack Obama’s facets are more socialistic. His economic plans are to cut taxes for the middle class, seniors and the poor by closing corporate tax loopholes. He opposes tax cuts for the wealthy and supports tax code changes to eliminate abusive shelters and streamline the tax system. His foreign policy is supporting the President’s Emergency Plans for AIDS Relief and eradicating malaria in Africa. He unlike McCain supports meeting the US commitment to the millennium Development Goals. He also supports expanding diplomatic corps, opposes the development of a missile defense system, and supports reducing nuclear stockpile. His views on life are in opposition to McCain. He opposes a federal ban on abortion and he voted to expand health services and education to reduce unintended pregnancy. However like McCain he supports the death penalty, but he passed a law that would require a taped confession in order to reduce wrongful convictions.
Based on these three facets I believe that John McCain is the best candidate for the position of president. According to Rawl’s ideal of justice the most important right of a person is their basic human right. The key component of this right is the right to live.
Taking a baby’s life in the womb is a dishonor to this privilege to live. I feel that abortion in no way is justified. In any reason there is always an alternative to killing. This is my core reason for supporting McCain. I feel that it is the presidents job is to keep us safe rather than making us as rich and this job begins at conception and runs through till death.
Once you are child your rights are protect by the man and women in the military service. I think that because of McCain’s military experience he has the knowledge to protect us from foreign nations. One of the big concerns in our world today is nuclear warfare. John McCain, unlike Barrack Obama, supports the development of a nuclear defense system. By having this protection we will not be susceptible to any kind of aerial attack on our nation.
Once we are kept safe it is then our duty to reach for success and wealth. Success can not be given to us. By giving people money you are not guaranteeing them success or wealth. Without a will to strive for this success you will never prosper. I consider Barrack Obama’s theory of solving the poverty issue by giving them money to be inadequate. Yes, money can help them for a while, but if they do not put it to the use of education or a job they will remain stagnant and never rise out of their poverty. McCain’s view on economy is what I consider to be correct. What is the fairness in given somebody’s hard earned money to someone that hasn’t worked in their life? That is not fairness and is not what Rawl would want. Everyone in the United States is given the same attempt to succeed it is only a question of whether they use it or not.
Even though I support McCain through all these facets, there are still views of his that I am skeptic of. Some of these include his views on healthcare and the environment. However, I do believe that he can be a good leader and that is what we need in a president. I do not believe that John McCain is a perfect candidate but I do believe that because of his solid foundation of facets he has the potential to find a happy medium on his weak facets and can become a president that will be not accepted, but respected, by all Republican or Democrat.
Chris Ranallo
Bro. Robert Peach FSC
Eng 165/Writing the Essay
October 29, 2008
Hope
It is the final week of the 2008 presidential campaign and our two presidential nominees seem to be like the north pole and the south pole because they are so opposite on many of their beliefs for a better America. Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain are both strong, qualified leaders in their own way, but they differ on how our government should better itself, and they seem to disagree on most of their policies. I have heard arguments for both sides, and Senator Obama’s proposals make for a superior system of government which upholds the various criteria of the common good which John Rawls defines in his novel Theory of Justice.
John Rawls is a 20th century American philosopher who states that the common good upholds an ideal of justice as equality or “fairness“. It is what some would call a utopian, but “it has filtered its way into the American sociopolitical system”(Peach). Diplomacy through dialogue is another important part of Rawls’ theory of justice. United States foreign policy is going to become extremely important in the next four years and talking rather than fighting is always a better choice. Rawls’ idea of justice as fairness can be applied to every branch of government in various social issues concerning the common good.
The common good applies to five major structures or “platforms”, they are to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity. The newly elected President must take into account all of these and act upon them accordingly. If he is willing to do this then we as a country will be able to come together as a nation and quite possibly build a greater world for our children and our children‘s children. It will lay the ground work for future generations to build upon, and create a world of peace and prosperity for every human being.
John McCain is a Republican who supports tax cuts for the wealthy, and large corporations. He supports the war in Iraq and voted for the troop surge. McCain supports AIDS relief and eradicating malaria in Africa, and supports state level abortion bans except for rape, incest and risk to the mother’s life. Believes cost containment is the best way to expand access to healthcare, and has authorized legislation that requires HUD to give abandoned housing units to community organizations. Believes border security is the first and foremost priority voting to build a fence along the Mexican border, and Co-sponsored an immigration bill providing current immigrants with a path to citizenship,
Barack Obama supports tax cuts for the middle class, seniors, and the poor by closing corporate loopholes. Also supports AIDS relief and the eradication of malaria in Africa. Opposes a federal ban on abortion and voted to expand health services and education to reduce unintended pregnancy. Obama supports health reforms that would ensure quality coverage for all. Pledges to withdraw all combat forces in Iraq within 16 months and will not send troops on life risking missions without a clear goal. He has also Co-sponsored a bill to create a National Affordable Housing trust Fund to build 1.5 million units over ten years. He supports a path to citizenship for immigrants , and also voted to build a fence along the Mexican border.
Senator Obama seems to be the logical choice for the next president of the United States because his policies compared to McCain’s policies are just superior in many ways. John McCain has voted against funding renewable energy and standards requiring 10% of electrical energy to come form renewable energy sources by 2020. Senator Obama supports an 80% cut in carbon emissions, and wants to invest $150 billion over ten years in renewable energy. It may be costly yes, but in the long run it may help to save the planet, and save money spent on non-renewable energy in the future. Many accuse Barack Obama of being too young and inexperienced, but I think being young may be exactly what this country needs, a breath of fresh air if you will. And as for being inexperienced, Barack Obama graduated from both Columbia University and Harvard School of Law, and has also served not only in the U.S. Senate but in the Illinois State Senate as well. He is exactly what this country needs, and that is hope.
Senator Obama gives people hope in a better future. A better life for us as Americans and for our children and future generations of Americans. He represents change, and change is exactly what the United States needs during these difficult times. We need a leader who is willing and able to commit to ideals that are for the common good of our nation, and that leader is Senator, and hopefully the next President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.
Eddie Kelly
Bro. Robert Peach, FSC.
Eng. 165/ Writing the Essay
October 28, 2008
Captain America (Justice)
This election is not only a very important election, but a very historical one too. The citizens of the U.S. will either elect the first black president or the first female vice president. On the Democratic ticket there is Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and Senator Joe Biden of Delaware. The Republican ticket contains Arizona senator John McCain and Alaska governor Sarah Palin. Based on John McCain’s record and his plans for his presidency, I believe he is the candidate who will best head an administration of justice.
John Rawls’ theory of justice is based on the concept that justice is actually fairness. In Rawls’ ideal world “the cooperation of individuals within a society for the attainment of a social contract guaranteeing the equal distribution of right” (Peach) would be omnipresent. In other words, in a state of pure justice, the entire population works on and agrees on an idea, law, or other form of social contract that guarantees that everyone is assured their individual rights. Rawls also believes in the idea of revision. As time goes on and situations change, Rawls understands that sometimes rules need to change to accommodate more people.
The Platform for the Common Good breaks down the different categories that Americans should live by to ensure the common good. I believe the two most important facets of this platform are establishing justice and promoting the general welfare. Establishing justice is all about equality. We are called to support any legislation or policies “that promote economic equity, ensure human rights, and eliminate all forms of exploitation and discrimination” (Common Good). By promoting justice, we try to eliminate sexism, classism, and racism, along with other discriminations. Promoting the general welfare focuses on promoting life and “human dignity” (Common Good). This aspect doesn’t just contain itself to domestic matter such as abortion, quality of education, and housing, but also to international crises such as global poverty. Basically, we must create a society “that respects and promotes life at all stages” (Common Good).
Three important issues in this election, in my opinion, are education, the war in Iraq, and the economy. John McCain’s education plan includes school competition and the voucher system. He also is an advocate of charter schools. He supports rewarding people with Education Savings Accounts through a higher tax deduction. John McCain is a supporter of the war in Iraq, and supported the troop surge in 2007. He is very dedicated to winning the war and stated, “I would much rather lose a campaign than lose a war”. Senator McCain supports tax cuts for those making more than $250,000. He also is an advocate of cutting the capital gains tax and cutting the corporate tax from 35% to 25%.
On the issue of education Senator Obama is a supporter of charter schools and an advocate of higher pay for teachers. He wants to increase funding for Head Start and Early Start so that more at-risk students are covered. He also supports a $4,000 tax credit for higher education. Barack Obama is in staunch opposition to the war in Iraq. He promises to remove troops from Iraq within 16 months. He has called this war a “dumb war”. Senator Obama’s economic plans include tax cuts for the middle class, seniors and the poor. He is opposed to extending tax cuts to the wealthy.
Education is a very important issue because many of our public educational facilities in this country are broken, and we need leader who can successfully reform them. I believe this person is John McCain. Senator McCain Supports a voucher system in which the government issues a certificate to families that can help pay for school. This is a brilliant plan that can allow even lower class families to send their kids to private or charter schools. Senator Obama makes no mention of a voucher system; a system that I feel is a just idea. I also think John McCain’s support for school competition and parental choice is brilliant. Two good, very just, things can come out of school competition and parental choice. Firstly, if parents can choose where they want to send their kids, they can send their kids to better school districts instead of being restricted to their own, possibly broken, school system. Secondly, if parents are choosing to send their kids away from bad school districts, schools will start to compete. They will start reforming themselves in order to try to get kids to come back to their schools, therefore effectively fixing broken school systems. Obviously, parental choice is very just because it allows families in areas where they are educationally deprived to get their kids adequate opportunities in education.
The war in Iraq has been raging on for years. Currently, many people, like Obama, oppose the war, and would like to leave. Others, a minority at that, are supporters of the war, such as John McCain. Whether the war is an agent of justice is completely based on your opinion of the war. Personally I feel that we are making progress in Iraq in setting up a democratic government, and slowly and hopefully eradicating terrorists from areas where people cannot defend themselves. I feel that if we left Iraq in the somewhat unstable condition it is currently in, terrorist groups would just hop the border and terrorize the Iraqi people. I feel that by trying to set up an effective and fair government for people who need help the war in Iraq is a just cause.
The economy is probably the most important issue in this election. The credit market and housing market are struggling horribly. Senator Obama and Senator McCain could not have two more different philosophies on how to fix the economy. I believe that McCain narrowly wins the justice award in the economy discussion. I admire many things about Obama’s economic plan such as his tax cuts to the middle and lower classes, seniors, and the poor. I also support his tax code change to eliminate abusive shelters. I believe those are two very just ideas. McCain is a supporter of cutting taxes on the wealthy and business owners. Many people say this would hurt the middle class, but I beg to differ. If you raise taxes on these people the only thing they are going to do is push all of these new taxes right down to the consuming middle and lower classes by way of higher prices and cutting of jobs. This also is a very just idea, but I think the most just thing you can do in our economy is to create jobs. Many companies are moving overseas, leaving many people out of a job. There is one striking reason why these companies leave is because of the outstanding 35% corporate tax. This is the highest business tax in the world. There is no reason why a business shouldn’t move from a place where they are paying that high 35% to a place like Ireland where the same tax is only 15%. I think that by promising to cut the corporate tax, Senator McCain’s economic plan will create more jobs in the U.S. and keep them here, therefore narrowly beating Obama for the more just economic plan.
Matt Donahue
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Eng. 165/Writing the Essay
October 29, 2008
Reform, Prosperity, Peace
The two candidates running for president of the United States are John McCain and Barack Obama. McCain is a senator of Arizona and has held this position for twenty-one years. Prior to this he was in the House of Representatives for four years. Obama has been a senator of Illinois for seven years and was elected to the U.S. senate in 2004 at the Democratic National Convention. Based off of his platform, John McCain proposes a system of justice that guarantees fairness and upholds the various criteria of the common good. Therefore, McCain is best suited as the next president of the United States.
John Rawls theory of justice explains the common good that develops the idea of justice as "fairness." Rawl believes that in order to reach such a goal, there must be explicit cooperation with people in a society that all believe in equal distribution of rights. There are two theories that "uphold the code of social justice of fairness" (Peach). The first principle discusses the rights and basic obligations while the second mentions the social economic inequalities. Rawls theory of justice and fairness meets the criteria to be capable of understanding the common good for all people.
We the people of the United States are called to, "work together as government, business, communities and individuals" (common good). First, we are called to establish justice to protect life and cancel all entities of exploitation and discrimination. According to the common good, we must create more jobs, schooling, services and, "green space" (common good). There must be opportunities for everyone. To provide for the common defense we must establish creative solutions to peoples' problems with other nations. We need to better understand other cultures. To promote general welfare we must attempt to "eliminate poverty" and upgrade paths to "education, safe housing and quality health care" (common good). Lastly, we the people must secure the Blessings of Liberty for our prosperity and ourselves. This explains how we should place human dignity above profits and eliminate debt that will damage future generations. To ensure that we do this, we must work to the best of our ability to continue on doing it together.
John McCain has exceptional views on all facets of his platform. McCain has many plans and solutions to the peoples' problems in today's world. Some of these plans include immediate help for American families such as providing more job opportunities, to provide job security and to help displaced workers. McCain also has fair views on abortion trying to overturn Roe vs. Wade, a major step of eliminating the killings of the unborn. The killing of the unborn is the holocaust of our day and McCain and his platform are trying to put an end to abortion. McCain also holds a strong position on the war in Iraq and holds this position with experience, being in the Vietnam War and being held prisoner for five years. He believes that the best way to secure long-term peace and security is to, "establish a stable, prosperous and democratic state in Iraq" (McCain). McCain believes that once Iraq can on their own, safeguard their country, American troops can and will return home.
Barack Obama also has several views and ideas if he were to become the next President. Obama is a big supporter on tax-cuts, that is, to both the middle and lower classes. He believes that if a person makes fewer than two hundred and fifty thousand a year, that they deserve a tax cut, but leaves an unfair advantage to the hard-working, successful upper class people. Obama also opposes the federal ban on abortion. Obama once promised that, "The first thing I'd to as President is sign a Freedom of Choice Act." Signing this means a woman has the "fundamental right" to abort her child through all nine months of pregnancy, even the right to abort a, "fully developed child in the final weeks for undefined 'health' reasons" (Cardinal Justin Rigali). Obama also supports the "expanding and simplifying the immigration process to encourage family reunification" (common good).
John McCain should be the next President of the United States. I came to this resolution because of McCains experience, understanding, skill and knowledge. What also encouraged this conclusion is the inexperience of Barack Hussein Obama. Even democratic supporter stated that, "we have seen the tragic result of having a President with little experience of foreign policy and cannot let it happen again with Obama." Obama has lack of experience, missing credentials and few achievements. He has only been in the U.S. Senate since 2004 and a state senator for Illinois for just seven years. Obama's minute resume does not qualify him to be our next President of the United States.
Although there are many deep concerns with Obama's plans on several issues, there is one that remains an issue for all people, especially ones thinking of voting for Obama. This problem involves his U.S. citizenship. Obama has failed to release his birth certificate and his health records. Obama's past has been somewhat concealed from the voters and remains a mystery. Obama's half-sister claims she remembers Barack Obama being born in one hospital while Barack Obama later claimed he was born in a completely different hospital. This is just one of many of Barack Obama's inconsistencies that leave concerned voters fearful. Unlike Obama, McCain when asked, immediately showed proof of all health records his proof of citizenship.
As a practicing Catholic there are many issues to look at including foreign policy, economy, and health care just to name a few. Although every issue is meaningful, life is exceedingly the most important issue in this election according to the Catholic Church. The bishops have stated that, "A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion." McCain, with a twenty-five year pro-life voting record meets the criteria of the Catholic bishops. Obama has voted pro-abortion repeatedly when he was both a state senator and in Congress. There have been forty-five million babies killed in the past thirty-five years and Obama has no plan or desire to overturn Roe vs. Wade. McCain will protect the life of the weakest and most vulnerable. Planned Parenthood has endorsed Obama because he pledged to only appoint abortion advocates to the Supreme Court.
In this election McCain clearly defends the rights of the unborn and Obama undoubtedly continues to promote the killing of innocent babies. "Without the right to life, all other human rights are meaningless" (United States bishops).
Jim Limegrover
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Eng.165/ Writing the Essay
October 30, 2008
For Red, White and Blue Not Just Red
Every four years, in the United States, an election is held, between numerous political parties, for the position of President and Vice President. There are two major parities, the Democratic Party, who chose Barack Obama a senator from Illinois and the Republican Party, who chose the senator from Arizona, John McCain, as their candidate. Many of McCain’s views are ones that would ensure a strong military stance, affordable health care for all and positive economic growth, in the United States and abroad, for the future.
John Rawls Theory of Justice is a proposition for a multifaceted social and economic reform, in the form of a “common good which upholds an ideal justice as ‘fairness’” (Peach). To reach this ideal, Rawls hopes that “cooperation of individuals” in a pluralistic world will reach a “social contract” (Peach). In this “social contract”, Rawls sees a fairly distributed society of human rights. The contract would come about form the “dialogue between peoples”, while leaving behind all “biases and prejudices” (Peach). Rawls, however, states people in the previous situation would “choose two rather different principles” that would carry out his theory of “social justice as ‘fairness’” (321). The first of the different principle is equal dispersion of “basic rights and duties” and, the second one, states that the difference in economic wealth and power should only happen if everyone receives benefits, especially the “least advantaged members of society” (321).
The Common Good wants to bring together a nation to choose a president that supports morally sound and faith oriented policies. In the summary, they explain the five facets in which to consider in choosing a president. The five areas are taken from the U.S. Constitution, they are establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity. To conclude these areas is a “Call to Action”, in which we are called as people to “continue to work together”, so that the nation can strive while being in line with the overall faith goals (Common Good). The first facet of the Common Good is establishing justice. In establishing justice, we must support equality among all people with no “forms of exploitation and discrimination” (Common Good). Another facet is ensuring domestic tranquility by building “infrastructures and programs” (Common Good). This base to start from will strengthen “local businesses and communities” needed for a cooperative nation. To ensure safety of these programs, and our nation, we need to provide for the common defense. This defense calls for “conflict resolution through diplomacy” as opposed to military action (Common Good). In defense we are called to support policy that “promotes stability abroad” by aid and philanthropy, migratory solutions and ending poverty (Common Good). Some of these categories fall under promoting the general welfare. In promoting the general welfare “we must promote and protect life and all systems and supports” in ensuring “human dignity” (Common Good). This “human dignity” calls for better health, work and schooling for Americans and peoples abroad (Common Good). Maybe the most important of all, as a country, is securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. To insure this we must establish a healthy economy, environment and global peace. The above facets would mean nothing if people ignored the call to action. We need a unified nation to put aside differences to contemplate a “common good” (Common Good).
John McCain has various platforms in which he would use to run the country. He voted against minimum wages and greater protection and freedom in organizing unions. Plans to cut taxes for those making $250,000 to keep big business in the U.S. and employ more workers. Wants to reduce emission levels to below 60% of the 1990 level and he voted against renewable resources making up 10% of electrical energy. Supports increasing fuel economy standards. Wants to give parents school vouchers to choose the school they want to send their children to and supports Federal saving accounts going towards higher education. In agreement with the current president; to continue the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and a missile defense system. Supports tax credits and state insurance pools for health care. Seeks to establish a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border, while, making it easier for current illegal immigrants to receive citizenship. He supports the war in Iraq and a stern opposition to terrorism. He is a firm believer in reversing Roe vs. Wade and making abortion illegal in the U.S. His stance in the death penalty is one in accordance with the already in place system. Plans to give abandoned housing units to community organizations in an effort to reduce poverty.
Some platforms and views that McCain has expressed are, also, shared with Barack Obama and others are not. Barack Obama supports giving more power to unions and increasing minimum wage. His tax plan includes cuts for middle class and increase for wealthy. Supports an aggressive reduction in use of nonrenewable resources and wants to invest 150 billion dollars to renewable energy. The education plan is one that includes charter schools, increased teacher pay and tax credit for higher education. He strongly favors charity and aid for AIDS relief. Desires to increase diplomatic core and opposes the war in Iraq. In opposition of a missile defense system in addition to the reduction of nuclear stockpiles. Obama, also, feels strongly about universal health care and making it easier for low and middle class families to receive it. In immigration, Obama wants to make it easier for foreigners to immigrate and receive citizenship. Even though he plans to make immigration easier, he supports building a fence along Mexican border. He plans to keep abortion legal but institute education programs for prevention of unintended pregnancy. To combat poverty, Obama plans to cut poverty in half by the agenda set by the Global Poverty Act.
John McCain’s policies on foreign affairs, health care and the economy correlate with the ideals set by the common good. McCain’s stance of foreign policy is one that embodies America and the common good. His policy to continue the war in Iraq is a smart and ethical choice. If Iraq was abandoned in the midst of the turmoil and chaos that plagues the nation, it would bring about major delineation of borders and increase the fighting. The quagmire in Iraq would then turn to a quagmire of the whole middle east; bringing about more social injustice, poverty and instability. A retreat from Iraq and surrounding areas would symbolize weakness to other countries, encouraging them to increase their discrimination against the Jewish community and other races in the Middle East. Unlike Obama, McCain wants to keep military force an option but agrees that an increase in diplomatic negotiations should occur. Rawls theory of “cooperation of individuals” is very noble but does not accurately express the agenda of foreign leaders (Peach). If peace could be met through a “social contract” then a victory is made but if negotiations end up in a violation “life and human dignity” then military force is needed (Common Good).
Health care has been a long debated subject for many previous elections. In the Common Good, it states that quality healthcare should be not just domestic but be a “global campaign” (Common Good). His policy to contain costs, give tax credits for those who purchase their own health care and have state funds for hard to insure people, is reasonable and fair approach to health care. This is supported by Rawls theory of “ideal justice as ‘fairness’” (Peach). It is fair because those who unable to pay don’t receive tax credits and those able to pay receive the tax credits, in return for their self reliance.
With the current economic downfall, a great emphasis is placed on how the country will recover the economy and prevent another close call. John McCain has policies that would help us recover in tough times and bring jobs back into the U.S. His plan to retain and increase jobs in the U.S. involves two policies. One is to decrease power in unions and two is to not tax the wealthy. The first, decreasing the power of unions, is essential for retention of jobs because of the high minimum wage. Business owners outsource for cheap labor that they are not receiving in the U.S. John McCain proposes to give some power to unions so to prevent unlawful practices and harmful work environment. This new minimum wage would not drop close to that of outsourced countries but it would be reasonable amount so that “least advantaged members of society” would be able to work (Peach). Second, the tax plan under John McCain differs from that of Senator Obama. Obama’s tax plan calls for taxing the wealthy and spreading the wealth to middle and low class. McCain, however, says this would only hurt the economy not help. It is very idealistic and “utopian” but it’s not a solution. It, again, goes to outsourced jobs and loss of money. A business owner losing money because he makes money, is not what America is based on. Furthermore, the United States cannot be run on small businesses. John McCain’s policy is to encourage more small business while retaining big business, also, by not instituting a harsh tax against someone earning their money. Someone receiving money that not earned by them, is not under “fairness” (Peach).
John McCain embodies American values hard work gets you “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. It’s the American dream to be able to be free, happy and be financially secure. To spread the wealth will only scare the jobs away and continue the trend of layoffs, firings and budget cuts. John McCain does have his weaknesses, though. The lack of attention given by McCain to the environment is one concept of the Common Good; secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, which he omits from his campaign. His inadequate poverty reduction plan is also not following the guideline stated in the Common Good. Although McCain has his shortcomings, I believe he is the best candidate for president.
Toby Coleman
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Eng. 165/Writing the Essay
October 29, 2008
Justice as Fairness: McCain vs. Obama
With time ticking down, I believe it is my duty to speak my mind and while doing so “endorse” a candidate for next presidency. Both men, Barack Obama and John McCain, are extremely qualified individuals which makes my decision all the more difficult. Both men previously held the title of senator of their respected states, John McCain in Arizona and Barack Obama in Illinois . In my opinion John McCain represents a system that best represents justice as fairness and also best represents the platform for the Common Good.
John Rawls, the 20th century American philosopher, also has a view of the Common Good which upholds the thought of justice as fairness. Rawls theory of justice involves people putting aside all preconceived biases and prejudices, thus letting go of the “veil of ignorance” (Peach). Also, Rawls stresses the notion of justice as fairness and we should be diplomatic rather than getting involved in threatening military action. Essentially, the main idea of the Common Good is justice as fairness applied to social issues.
The platform for the Common Good can be found in one of the most historic documents in the history of our nation, the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. The document begins with “We the people of the United States are called too…” basically to get the people ready for what we are obliged to do. The document then goes into all that is expected of us as citizens of the United States . A framework for the Common Good is stated, “We the people must continue to work together-as government, business, communities, and individuals-to create a nation and world rooted in justice” (Common Good). To be rooted in justice is this country’s main goal. The main goal of our country stresses the deep urgency to help make our nation, “A more perfect union” (Common Good).
While the well qualified candidate from the Republican Party, John McCain, doesn’t enjoy all the strong points, he is still very qualified to take over our country. Probably the biggest issue today is the Iraq War and John McCain supports it. John McCain has even been quoted saying, “I would much rather lose a campaign then lose a war” (Common Good). Those are strong words and he stresses the point that he is in the war to the end. The other major issue today is our economy. For the most part our economy is in danger. To ratify this situation, McCain supports tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 and also plans to cut corporate tax from 35% to 25% (Common Good). Also, relating to the issue of healthcare, McCain is helping states create insurance pools for uninsured or hard to insure individuals. The only one standing in his way is none other than Barack Obama.
Barack Obama, the candidate for the Democratic Party, represents some of the same beliefs of John McCain, but there are also many other differences. One major difference is their plan on economy. Unlike McCain, Obama currently supports tax cuts for the middle class. Another major difference is the subject of the Iraq War. Unlike McCain, Obama opposes the Iraq War and pledges to withdraw all troops within 16 months if elected (Common Good). On the other hand, Obama isn’t totally against war, saying in 2002, “I don’t oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war-a rash war” (Common Good). The last big issue is healthcare. In order to help everyone, Obama supports reforms that would ensure quality coverage for all.
Going back to my topic sentence, I again stress my belief that John McCain represents a system that best exemplifies justice as fairness and also best represents the platform for the Common Good. Although both men in my eyes are extremely qualified, I need to make a decision and “endorse” a candidate. Even though I wish I can end the problem and vote for both gentlemen, I regrettably have to result to choosing one, and with that choice I have to go with Senator John McCain. John McCain’s achievements and war record speak for themselves.
I have a couple reasons to back up my choice to have John McCain represent our country as our next president. His policies are more just and fair because they guarantee a superior general welfare, therefore meeting the characteristic of the Common Good which states, “To promote general welfare we must promote and protect life and all of the systems and supports that are required for life and human dignity” (Common Good). Also I back McCain because I don’t believe in pulling our troops out of Iraq so quick. I support bringing them home but not immediately, like Senator Obama plans to do. I prefer rather to bring them home whenever our goal is achieved, thus guaranteeing no more problems with Middle Eastern countries. All are reasons why I believe that the person who will best carry on the Common Good and be the next president of the United States is Senator John McCain.
Ricky Zavatchen
Brother Rob Peach, FSC
Eng 165/Writing the Essay
October 29, 2008
In almost a week many concerned Americans be will heading out to vote for the next President of the United States. The candidates are Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and Senator John McCain of Arizona. Many of the Presidential polls have both of these candidates neck and neck. Both candidates are trying to gain what they believe is the common good for the United States. Both Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will be a better President then our current one, George W. bush, I feel that Senator John McCain will be the better choice out of the two. With foreign policy being a big factor in this year’s election I feel that John McCain will be the best opinion for the United States.
John Rawls developed concepts of the ideal of justice. John Rawls states that “we are challenged to protect life, support policies that promote economic equity, ensure human rights, and eliminate all forms of racism. John Rawls is basically saying that for these ideal to be reached, all individuals within the society must agree upon various social aspects and that these aspects of the society must be fair to all the people in our country. It may seem that this is an unreachable goal because there will always be people that striving to be wealthy because they work hard then those who do not want to work. Also there will be people out there who thing they are better then someone because of the color of their skin. Rawls theories are mostly great goal to look forward to but we sometimes have to face reality and realize that some may never be reached.
Of the issues stated in the common good, the most important within the nation are establishing justice and promoting the general welfare. The main purpose in establishing justice is protecting the lives of the citizens. In order for this to become a success, the new leader of the nation must “promote economic equity, ensure human rights, and eliminate all forms of exploitation and discrimination” (Common Good). If this would occur it would create a society that is unified rather than divided.
The three main facets for candidate John McCain are economy, health care, and foreign policy. For the economy John McCain supports tax cuts for those making more than $250,000, and increasing exemptions for dependents. He would also maintain cuts to capital gains tax and cut corporate tax from 35 % - 25 %. His foreign policy is continuing support of the President’s Emergency plan for AIDS relief and eradicating malaria in Africa. He supports the development of a missile defense system and also supports reducing our nuclear stockpiles. For health care the Republican candidate, John McCain, supports tax credits for individuals who purchase their own health insurance and helping states create insurance pools for the uninsured or hard to insure individuals. He also believes cost containment is the best way to expand access to health care.
Barack Obama’s facets are similar to McCain’s but are somewhat different. For the economy unlike McCain, Obama supports tax cuts for the middle class, seniors and the poor by closing corporate tax loopholes. He opposes extending tax cuts for the wealthy. His views in foreign policy are the same as McCain’s with the AIDS relief and eradicating malaria in Africa. His views are different when it comes to the development of nuclear missiles, and he also supports expanding diplomatic corps. For health care Obama supports reforms that would ensure quality coverage for all. He also supports tax credits for low and middle-income households.
Based on the facets stated above I believe that John McCain better candidate to become our next president. Rawls’ ideal of justice the most important right of a person is their right to live. Unlike Senator Obama, Senator McCain believes that there should be a nation wide band on abortion. It is basically killing someone. I know that this should not be an issue that should be looked at for who should be president but if the United States lets young citizens believe that abortion is acceptable then in the future it might be something that gets out of hand. It is also harmful for the woman that is getting the abortion done; it can cause miscarriages when they try to have another baby. Also McCain is more experienced then Obama. If Obama would become president he could make a “rookie” mistake. The last thing is that Obama wants to tax major corporations more, if this happens the only thing that will come from it is them hurting there customers. They will most likely raise there prices causing our citizens to spend more of their hard earned money.
I support McCain through all his facets and think he is the best choice for our next president. He can be a great leader and this is what we need in a president. He will be a great president because of his strong belief in his facets. He is weak in some areas but no one is perfect. He will not be liked by everyone but I feel he is the better of the two candidates.
Bro. Rob Peach
ENG 165 / Writing the Essay
28 October 2008
Justice as Fairness, The Common Good and the Next President: Barack Obama
Next week, local and national news programs will project images of the U.S. map with its neatly outlined states ablaze in either blue or red, signifying to which presidential candidate, democrat (blue) or republican (red), the electoral vote will go as the populace it represents hits the polls to cast a ballot on its choice for the next president: either the young upstart Senator from Chicago, Illinois, Barack Obama (D), or his counterpart, Arizona Senator John McCain (R). Though both men are highly qualified for the job—despite arguments against Obama for his relatively short time in Senate—it is ultimately Barack Obama who deserves the position as America’s next president. And though both candidates are aiming to meet the criteria of and uphold a certain standard of justice and the common good, it is Obama whose platform hits upon the core principals of each more consistently. This is true with particular regard to his plans for the economy, health care, and foreign policy.
In Theory of Justice, the 20th century American philosopher, John Rawls, develops a conception of the common good which upholds an ideal of justice as “fairness.” IN order to obtain such an ideal, Rawls proposes the cooperation of individuals within a society for the attainment of a social contract guaranteeing the equal distribution of rights. Ultimately, Rawls’ theory maintains the following for the code of social justice as “fairness”:
[T]he first [principle] requires equality in the assignment of basic rights and duties, while the second [principle] holds that social economic inequalities, for example inequalities of wealth and authority, are just only if they result in compensation benefits for everyone, and in particular for the least advantaged members of society. (321)
Ideally, this notion of justice as fairness, grounded by the two aforementioned principles, should filter its way into the American sociopolitical system, particularly in the government’s role of regulating the domestic economy through legislation involving such things as taxes, welfare, health care, and the minimum wage. Also, this notion of justice as fairness, an important facet of the common good, should filter its way into U.S. foreign policy in the form of diplomacy through dialogue rather than through immediate action via military intervention.
According to Catholic platform for the common good, the U.S. government and U.S. citizens are called to advocate social change by establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare and securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity (Coalition for the Common Good). With regard to the economy, this entails the development of a social and economic order that is:
…sustainable and ecologically responsible; places human dignity above profits; harnesses renewable and clean sources of energy; balances corporate interests with the global common good; addresses the need to strengthen our infrastructure; eliminates debt that will harm future generations; recognizes and seeks to address discriminatory practices; promotes fair trade policies; and neither exploits persons and communities, nor abuses our stewardship of the earth. (Coalition for the Common Good)
As far as health care is concerned, the platform for the common good states that the U.S. and the global community must work towards eliminating poverty and to increase access to quality healthcare among other things to create “the essential conditions for a consistent culture of life that respects and promotes life at all stages” (Coalition for the Common Good). And lastly, regarding foreign policy, the platform for the common good proposes that “we need to develop an ethical U.S. foreign policy that emphasizes conflict resolution through diplomacy instead of military force—and that promotes stability through fair trade laws, debt cancellation and increased responsible international development aid” (Coalition for the Common Good).
John McCain’s platform aims to support such fundamental tenets of the common good. Regarding the economy, McCain essentially seeks to foster the following: workplace flexibility, relief for families, government reform, support for small businesses, the development of cheap and clean energy, the reform for better healthcare, the creation of simpler and fairer taxes and the lowering of trade barriers (www.johnmccain.com). McCain proposes to do most of this by relieving the tax burden that he claims Obama would place on small businesses and big businesses alike. His aim is to create jobs in America while ensuring competition between business at home and abroad. McCain would cut corporate tax from 35% to 25% and support tax cuts for those making more than $250,000.
The issue of healthcare of course factors into this scenario as much of the healthcare insurance in the U.S. is employee-provided. McCain promises to “provide $5,000 for health insurance to every American family [and $2,500 for individuals]—supporting small business that seek to offer insurance” (www.johnmccain.com). Claiming that the Obama platform for essentially universal healthcare would be a financial burden beyond measure for the American government and American families while forcing reliance upon a government-run plan, the McCain campaign aims to create competition within the insurance industry to lower costs to individuals and companies to purchase more affordable healthcare plans. He “supports tax credits for individuals who purchase their own health insurance and helping states create insurance pools for uninsured or hard to insure individuals” (www.johnmccain.com).
On foreign policy, McCain takes a staunch nationalist approach that aims to assert U.S. police power through military intervention, particularly in terms of U.S. presence in Iraq, from which he will not withdraw troops until the war is clearly “won.” McCain supports the rebuilding of a decent infrastructure in Iraq to provide for a sustainable economic situation. According to his website, the McCain platform calls for increased pressure on Iraq’s neighbors, Iran and Syria, who have purportedly “aided and abetted the violence in Iraq for far too long” (www.johnmccain.com). In dealing with such threats, McCain’s campaign states:
The answer is not unconditional dialogues with these two dictatorships from a position of weakness. The answer is for the international community to apply real pressure to Syria and Iran to change their behavior. The United States must also bolster its regional military posture to make clear to Iran our determination to protect our forces and deter Iranian intervention. (www.johnmccain.com)
McCain meanwhile supports the development of a missile defense system and the reduction of nuclear stockpiles and nuclear proliferation across the global board.
Regarding the economy, Obama, like McCain, voted for the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (Coalition for the Common Good). Furthermore, Obama believes in tax cuts for the “middles, seniors and the poor” while opposing the extension of tax cuts for the wealthy (Coalition for the Common Good). What this implies is the proper redistribution of wealth within American society so that the government funded social programs are bolstered to support the less fortunate. Besides providing tax cuts for low income to middle income families, Obama seeks to provide tax relief for small business and startups by altogether eliminating capital gains taxes, unlike McCain, who seeks to simply lower them. Obama’s campaign also promises to fight for fair trade, using trade agreements to “spread good labor and environmental standards” at home and abroad (www.barackobama.com). Obama’s plan would provide tax incentives for big businesses to create factories, and thus jobs, at home. By taxing the wealthiest two percent of America’s families that make more than $250,000 a year, Obama seeks to “ensure we are restoring fairness and returning to fiscal responsibility” (www.barackobama.com).
Regarding healthcare, Obama not only promises to support reforms that would ensure affordable healthcare, but affordable healthcare to all. Despite McCain’s claims against his healthcare system as it affects small businesses, Obama’s plan proposes to create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit and a government-funded incentive to provide lower costs for business by “covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees” (www.barackobama.com). Obama seeks to maintain private and government-funded health insurance options, but with the bonus of decreasing the spending of those invested in private insurance by as much as $2,500 (www.barackobama.com). As for the question of funding government-based healthcare insurance options, Obama is clear that he will “pay for his $50 - $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level” (www.barackobama.com).
Obama’s foreign policy program “supports expanding diplomatic corps”, opposes the “development of a missile defense system and [like McCain] supports reducing our nuclear stockpiles” (Coalition for the Common Good). Essentially, Obama seeks to renew American foreign policy by way of restoring diplomatic relations with the rest of the world, even those nations who pose a threat to our national security such as Iran:
Obama and Biden will renew American diplomacy to meet the challenges of the 21st century. They will rebuild our alliances. And they would be willing to meet with all nations, friend and foe, to advance American interests. (www.barackobama.com)
Obama’s foreign policy plan is based on a comprehensive scheme developed by a corps of over 300 consultants divided into various think-tanks. There task is to find viable ways to promote diplomacy and peace throughout the world, not through direct military action or violence, but through dialogue. Unlike McCain, Obama and Biden support “meeting the U.S. commitment to the Millennium Development Goals which cut “extreme poverty around the world in half by 2015, and…will double our foreign assistance to $50 billion to achieve that goal. They will help the world's weakest states to build healthy and educated communities, reduce poverty, develop markets, and generate wealth” (www.barackobama.com ). On the grounds that the Iraq War was unjustifiable and, indeed, unjust and rash, Obama did not support it from the beginning. He “pledges to withdraw all combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months” (Coalition for the Common Good). Obama ultimately takes a hard-line approach to the war on terror, claiming that Afghanistan should become a key target for military invasion so as to root out Al Qaeda terrorist cells and find Bin Laden.
Interestingly enough, Obama’s stances on the various issues aim for the same ends as McCain’s: reform, prosperity and peace. However, his methods of reaching such goals are ultimately more relevant to the common good than those of McCain’s. Obama is coming from the experience of a politician who has worked on the ground, in the mud and muck of community organizing in one of America’s poorest cities. He therefore has a realistic sense of what the local economies need to bolster their strength and restore the self-esteem of their neighborhoods so that self-sufficiency and fiscal responsibility become the norm on the ground level.
By alleviating the middle to low income households of heavy tax burdens, Obama’s platform seeks to promote those aspects of the common good and Rawls theory of justice that call for “economic equity” and the insurance of human rights, lessoning the “disparities between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’” (Coalition for the Common Good). Lessoning the tax burden on low income families ideally provides for them the possibility of responsible investment in such things as better education and adequate insurance. In strengthening the communities of less affluent populations through an economical ethic of access and compensation, Obama’s platform would ideally eliminate poverty and thus increase access to those social services that seek to protect human life from conception to natural death. Poverty as a root cause of much of the world’s social ills is a prioritized threat that an Obama administration would work specifically towards ending as evidenced by the democratic candidate’s sponsorship of the Global Poverty Act, “which sets an agenda to cut extreme poverty by half in 2015” (Coalition for the Common Good). Anyone arguing against Obama as anti-life should keep in mind that his platform is aimed at making social ills such as abortion—which he personally opposes—irrelevant.
Keeping economic “fairness” in mind, that is, as Rawls would have it, to alleviate such evils as poverty, Obama seeks to use the government tax system to properly redistribute the wealth garnered by big businesses and high income households to provide for better education, healthcare, and social services. McCain’s program does not seem to suggest anything about holding corporations or big business accountable for what they do with their wealth on behalf of others. It seems to simply aim for promoting the consumption of more goods within American society without regard for unnecessary spending on both the individual and corporate level. Yes, McCain seeks to promote business growth within America, and Obama does as well. However, Obama is keener on regulating big businesses so that, through monopoly, they do not gain a stranglehold on local economies. To counter claims that taxing big businesses drives incentive to keep jobs in America away, Obama proposes to provide tax relief for those businesses that choose not to outsource.
Speaking of outsourcing, Obama’s platform, unlike McCain’s, addresses the crimes of exploitation to which overseas workers are subjected in outsourced American factories. Not only does Obama seek to establish fairness and justice at home by creating more jobs and therefore a sustainable economy, he also seeks to keep tabs on the way the U.S. does business overseas. Keep trade fair, Obama says, so that economic justice is available for all, particularly the factory worker, farmer or other form of middleman, and not just the wealthy, corporate elite.
On the subject of upholding basic rights and the just compensation of benefits for the least advantaged, Obama seeks to provide access to adequate healthcare for all. McCain seeks to do this as well, but his plan does not necessarily guarantee lower healthcare costs; it seems uncertain as to whether companies will actually lower costs in competition with one another. Thus, McCain’s plan allots tax credit to families that, even with $3,800 in tax savings, may still not be able to purchase insurance as his plan envisions. McCain meanwhile seeks to maintain an income tax on poorer families which further polarizes them in terms of economic class status from the higher income households who, under his tax plan, would have tax breaks and thereby easier access to insurance. Granted, McCain does seek to create the aforementioned insurance pools for uninsured or hard to insure individuals. Regardless, it seems that McCain’s plan, if judged by fairness, does not match up to the criteria of ultimately compensating for the less well-off. Obama’s plan, on the other hand, seems more comprehensive in this regard, using the government (through taxes on those who can afford to pay them) to subsidize health care costs for those who, even with a tax credit, could still not afford health insurance. Any argument against this plan as a form of big government must remember that Obama is not forcing anyone who has decent employee benefits or other form of private insurance to give up on his or her chosen plan.
Lastly, on the issue of foreign policy, Obama wins out if we are talking the criteria of the common good, which states that “to provide for the common defense we need to develop an ethical U.S. foreign policy that emphasizes conflict resolution through diplomacy rather than military force” and the engagement with other nations to make “creative solutions to common problems such as…weapons proliferation [and] global poverty” (Coalition for the Common Good). McCain also seeks the end of nuclear proliferation, but endorses a nationalist ethic of military intervention that believes in violence as a justifiable means to achieve a peaceful end. Obama’s logic speaks otherwise, recognizing that America’s reputation is becoming more notorious around the globe as a result of its military interference in other countries. Regardless of its humanitarian intent, the U.S. military strategy of invading, conquering and establishing some arbitrary form of top-down democracy without intensive recourse to such world coalitions as the United Nations or NATO, has failed to stabilize warring countries as the quagmires in Vietnam or Iraq will testify. Obama’s theory of justice recognizes that violence breeds violence and that human life, in the midst of international conflict, should not be toyed with at the hands of a few politicians. McCain’s platform recognizes this as well, but fails to act on the realization because of its ethic of aggression that legitimizes such things as preemptive war.
American hegemony is a tried and, in the long run, untrue tradition of domestic and foreign policy that has failed the common good and a theory of justice such as that which Rawls espouses. The desire to establish American might as the only “right”, to make of America the predominant influence upon the workings of the world is the ethic of regimes such as those we saw in the USSR during the Cold War, in Germany under Hitler’s regime and in the British Imperialism against which the American Revolution was launched. It is a system of world dominance that seeks to, at whatever cost of human life or man-power, maintain a stronghold on the way the world works at home and abroad. In order to maintain a system of justice and equality at home, the U.S. needs to readjust its priorities and thereby renew its domestic and foreign policies in ways that uphold a system of sustainability that we have not seen in this country with the advent of outsourcing, slave labor, unfair trading practices that exploit the middlemen, corporate abuses of workers, banking failures, and fiscal responsibility in the allocation of little money to education, healthcare, and social services and the allocation of too much money to unfounded and unjust wars such as those in Iraq. Barack Obama seeks to replace American hegemony with American diplomacy.
In the Oct. 13, 2008 issue of The New Yorker John McCain was quoted as saying, “ ‘I Believe in American exceptionalism. I do. And I can prove it by reviewing our history. I want the twenty-first century to be the American century’” (Lemann 118). It is this view towards exceptionalism that undergirds the failing philosophy of hegemony, a value system that turns people away from accepting America as a legitimate and credible world power. In this way, America’s perceived strength as McCain would have it is in the end its greatest weakness. To paraphrase Obama, McCain’s world no longer exists. The world that does is one that needs the visionary insight of Barack Obama for systemic change—from the ground up rather than from the top down—at home and around the globe: a collaborative effort towards reform, prosperity, and peace.
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