Edited by Gillian Palmer
Divisive Election in America
Published in Al Rai
(Jordan) on 20 October 2012
by Dr. Fahd al-Fanek (link to original)
With every presidential election in America it is typical to hear there’s no meaningful difference between one president or the other; American politics are unified and it’s the institutions which make the decisions and policies, thus it’s unimportant whether the new president is a Democrat or a Republican.
But this belief doesn’t apply to the present electoral battle. America is divided more than ever before. The presidential debates show that the two candidates don’t agree on anything.
The American people themselves are divided along ethnic, social and economic lines. Opinion polls indicate that a third of whites will vote for Romney, three-quarters of blacks will choose Obama and, consistent with that, the majority of Hispanics stand with Obama.
On the social level, the poor support Obama while the wealthy stand with Romney. Naturally, the elderly and retired lean toward the Democratic Party, which supports their benefits and rights in the state.
In foreign policy, Obama wants to focus on soft power: diplomatic tools and economic sanctions. Romney wants to rely on military forces.
In fiscal policy, Romney wants a smaller government that economizes in all sectors of public expenditures, except military spending, and lower taxes on the wealthy and on corporations. Obama wants to establish a state which works toward social justice, where those who have the means to support a greater share of the national budget do so.
Obama wants to lower the deficit by increasing taxes on large corporations and the rich. Romney wants to lower the deficit by canceling social programs relied upon by minorities, the poor, the unemployed and the sick, who Romney considers to be a burden on the state.
In extreme terms, Obama is sometimes accused of being a communist and Romney is accused of being a Nazi — these accusations are untrue, but have clear significance.
For the Arabs, great hopes were attached to Obama at the beginning of his term, especially after his famous speech at Cairo University. Obama was unable to meet his promises and dashed those hopes. Even so, he remains preferable to his competitor, who has outdone himself with Netanyahu and the service of Israel, and in claiming that Palestinians don’t want peace.
The Arabs of America vote as individuals, themselves divided between the Democratic and Republican parties. The nominees’ positions on the Palestine issue are one of the most important factors that can tip the scales toward one candidate or the other; it’s natural this time that Obama is the first choice
But this belief doesn’t apply to the present electoral battle. America is divided more than ever before. The presidential debates show that the two candidates don’t agree on anything.
The American people themselves are divided along ethnic, social and economic lines. Opinion polls indicate that a third of whites will vote for Romney, three-quarters of blacks will choose Obama and, consistent with that, the majority of Hispanics stand with Obama.
On the social level, the poor support Obama while the wealthy stand with Romney. Naturally, the elderly and retired lean toward the Democratic Party, which supports their benefits and rights in the state.
In foreign policy, Obama wants to focus on soft power: diplomatic tools and economic sanctions. Romney wants to rely on military forces.
In fiscal policy, Romney wants a smaller government that economizes in all sectors of public expenditures, except military spending, and lower taxes on the wealthy and on corporations. Obama wants to establish a state which works toward social justice, where those who have the means to support a greater share of the national budget do so.
Obama wants to lower the deficit by increasing taxes on large corporations and the rich. Romney wants to lower the deficit by canceling social programs relied upon by minorities, the poor, the unemployed and the sick, who Romney considers to be a burden on the state.
In extreme terms, Obama is sometimes accused of being a communist and Romney is accused of being a Nazi — these accusations are untrue, but have clear significance.
For the Arabs, great hopes were attached to Obama at the beginning of his term, especially after his famous speech at Cairo University. Obama was unable to meet his promises and dashed those hopes. Even so, he remains preferable to his competitor, who has outdone himself with Netanyahu and the service of Israel, and in claiming that Palestinians don’t want peace.
The Arabs of America vote as individuals, themselves divided between the Democratic and Republican parties. The nominees’ positions on the Palestine issue are one of the most important factors that can tip the scales toward one candidate or the other; it’s natural this time that Obama is the first choice