Take a Stand

In The Audacity of Hope Barack Obama makes the point that our country needs more basic research; investments in training more engineers, scientists, and innovators; and a critical investment in energy infrastructure to move us toward energy independence.

He admits that it will cost some real money but says, “…we can afford what needs to be done. What’s missing is not money, but a national sense of urgency.”

Rhetorically though, I ask, how do you get urgency in schooling, in technology, in energy—indeed, in any kind of progress from conservatism, when the very definition of a conservative is: A person who from prejudice or lack of foresight is opposed to true progress.

For those who claim to be a conservative and vote that way: I ask, again rhetorically, is that who you really are, how you really feel—if not, then you are not a conservative, so don’t vote that way.

And, to the so called Independents (fence sitters), are you really opposed to true progress, if so, get off the fence, commit yourself to your beliefs and become a conservative.

On the other hand, if you do feel that we, as a country, as a people, can make some positive changes leading to an abatement of the problems we face, then take a stand, get off the fence, don’t be an Independent, taking the easy way out, following whatever is popular at the moment; instead, take a position, be for and vote for true progress—become a liberal, it is not a dirty word, look it up in the dictionary, it means: generous, broadminded, tolerant, not narrow in your views and ideas, favoring progress and reforms.