Javier Ogaz

Political convictions are complex and not always easy to express. They give background and history to the beliefs that guide and influence our political life. We take our beliefs and reconcile them with the choices that are provided to us whenever it is time to vote. In essence, we try to translate the way we see the world into a checked box. 

I’m sure there are arguments, some valid and some not, about the effectiveness of representative democracy. Is it possible to directly affect the policy and decisions being made on behalf of U.S. citizens? We are told that the vote makes this possible. If we trust this system, we should vote our conscious, knowing full well that there are others who disagree with us. Going into this year’s election I want to take a moment to share my general thoughts on some political issues.

I will vote for any candidate or referendum that supports the following (in no particular order):

• Executive Power. The United States can only be at war, or sanction actions that could lead to war, unless they are voted on by Congress. We have had a decade of war. Our country is not safer and our global standing has crumbled. The way to lead the world is not to police it. We must lead by example. Last week our President signed into law a bill that provides the government with the ability to indefinitely detain American citizens. Sadly, that didn’t seem to make the news.
• Overturn Citizens United: I trust in the words of Justice John Paul Stevens’ dissent: “At bottom, the Court’s opinion is thus a rejection of the common sense of the American people, who have recognized a need to prevent corporations from undermining self government since the founding, and who have fought against the distinctive corrupting potential of corporate electioneering since the days of Theodore Roosevelt. It is a strange time to repudiate that common sense. While American democracy is imperfect, few outside the majority of this Court would have thought its flaws included a dearth of corporate money in politics”. To be clear, President Obama benefits from this Supreme Court decision as well (he’s projected to raise one billion dollars for his reelection campaign). It is not a Democrat vs. Republican issue, but rather an issue of integrity as it relates to fair and accesible elections. 
• Civil Rights: Marriage is a civil institution that is used as a mechanism to distribute social resources to American families. Voting rights are civil rights; they afford all Americans the ability to actively shape the institutions that govern their day-to-day lives.  
• Deficit reduction: The Federal deficit is a problem now and for the future. If any politician is serious about deficit reduction, I support a mixture of tax increases and spending cuts. I cannot support any politician that supports tax cuts on the wealthy while at the same time advocating for cuts in social programs for the poor. Many politicians claim that a “culture of government dependency” hurts America while completely ignoring the fact that income disparity forces many people to utilize the services that their government provides.  In some ways, I am glad we have had a few months of reprieve when it comes to deficit reduction, but I know that serious conversation is needed. 
• Separation of church and state: While the right to worship freely is a key American principle, I believe that also includes the freedom from religion. I support candidates who respect a diversity of belief, including non-belief. When it comes to civil elections, I expect my leaders to understand that cheap religious pandering adds nothing to civil discourse. 
• Energy policies: I support candidates who understand that innovation can bring unprecedented changes in energy consumption. The response to America’s dependency on foreign oil should not be a conversation about drilling in the homeland, but rather a discussion about curbing our asinine dependence on fossil fuels. I cannot support a politician who refuses to acknowledge the effects our energy consumption has on the environment. The current fascination to deny the existence of global warming is offensive and nothing more than political pandering. 
• Immigration: As a political issue, immigration has always been complex. In order to address issues of immigration, I prefer candidates who can take into account the human cost of immigration policies. Securing the border is an isolationist and irresponsible way of tackling immigration. If a politician is serious about addressing illegal immigration than no option can be left unconsidered. A pathway to citizenship should promote civic engagement and inclusion. 
• Health Care: I support candidates who believe health care is a human right. While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obama Cares) was a step in the right direction, we need to have a serious conversation about health care in the United States. I don’t believe someone should be forced into bankruptcy because they got sick. I believe that care should be afforded to all people and not just those that can afford it. I also think that medical school should be more accessible. We shouldn’t force students who undertake the challenge of becoming doctors to accept the mountain of debt that so often comes with studying medicine. 

While these are just a few issues that come to mind, I think they are a good beginning. It’s unfortunate that I cannot think of one elected official who supports all of these stances. Most of the time, we are forced into voting for politicians who somewhat support what we believe. It’s usually the choice of the lesser of two evils, if that can be said to be a choice. 

In the world of politics, it is easy to get frustrated with the inaction of my fellow citizens. Somewhere, we forgot that democracy is power. By agreeing to give up our rights to live together, we bind each other in a social contract that can only be sustained through initiative and action. As a self-acknowledged political junkie (whatever that means!), I forget how hard it can be for others to express what they believe. Lately, I’ve simply suggested that others read more. We all benefit from informed voting, but it seems like this becomes a bigger struggle every day. 

Suggestions for 2012: Stop reading Politico. No one benefits from stories about capital hill drama. Stop reading the Huffington Post and MSNBC. Read more books. Have more conversations with your peers about politics. If you disagree with someone, respect them and share your own point of view. Most of all, VOTE!