A "Townhall" debate???

Ok, so I have made it a point to avoid political stuff in my blog, and this is the first time that I am going to bend that rule a little. While it will be a little political, it will also be objective (I think).

So, I wasted about 90 minutes of my life tonight. I watched what was supposed to be a "Townhall" style debate. This was ANYTHING but a "Townhall" style debate. Actually it was very much like any other debate. Perhaps they shouldn't have screened the questions first. They should have simply let people ask questions from the audience until the time was up. I think that would have been a much more effective debate, and also would have been more enlightening on who each candidate was. As it was, we got a whole bunch of Republican and Democratic talking points. It was the same old stuff we have been hearing for the last several months. Not much has changed.

As I said I was going to be objective, here is the objective part. It was a tie. I know that FoxNews (my favorite news channel) will probably call it barely a McCain win, and all the other cable news stations will call it for Obama, but I really feel like it was a draw. I really wanted McCain to win - but there was nothing in that debate that made me think that. There was also nothing in the debate that made me think that Obama won, so I have to say it was a tie. This actually really means it was a win for Obama because McCain needed a big win.

I have some problems with both of their policies

Obama wants to socialize medicine. He wants the U.S. government to be the insurance company for millions of Americans. He says that those with insurance can keep their current insurance and those that don't have insurance will be able to get affordable insurance just like the senators have. What happens when millions of Americans and businesses everywhere figure out that the government plan is cheaper than their plan? Here is what will happen - they will all switch to the government plan and bankrupt our government. It will also put hundreds of thousands of insurance agents, representatives, and other insurance workers OUT OF A JOB, when their insurance company has to close due to lack of business.

McCain wants the U.S. government to buy up all these bad mortgages. It is going to cost a lot, as he said. McCain also says that it is needed. My problem with all of this is - When does personal responsibility begin to play a role again? Why is it that the tax payers of this country have to pay for the stupid decisions of the few? I have said it other times - there are some people that were the victims of predatory lending, and others that have lost their job and because of this are losing their home. That is the tragedy of this all, but that still doesn't take away the responsibility that each person has to manage their finances, and to be informed when they sign on a dotted line.

So there is my objective point of view. I wish all the media had an objective point of view - but as we all know they have a favorite candidate, and they want to paint the opposition in a negative light.

Goodnight - I am going to try and salvage the rest of my evening since I wasted 90 minutes.