Too Bad They Both Can't Lose

Today is the US election. I have been distressed by John McCain's attempts to curry favour with voters by offering goodies. I have also been impressed by Obama's drift toward the centre to try to calm concerns about his radical-left background.

But both of them appear to be devout interventionists. Both of them pander to voters who think the gubmnt should help them out whenever they want help. I share the views of Don Boudreaux at Cafe Hayek (which I highly recommend reading on a regular basis).

I wish they both could lose. But then I'm not sure I'd be happy with any other choice.

But here's my point: I hope Obama wins today. I would not have said this two months ago, and this is a conditional hope. Given the results of all the polls, and given the Iowa and InTrade betting (see graph below), how can Obama not win? If McCain wins, the primary explanation offered will be racism. I would love for us to put racism and racial discrimination behind us. The history of slavery and exploitation of various peoples through time is a horrid one. It will be wonderful if we can close the book another page or two on those chapters in our history.

If McCain wins, trust in the actions of gubmnts and trust in people who are different, will plummet to an all-time low.

Nope. Given the polls, and given the advance betting, I hope Obama wins.

Comments

[Bob Shannon]

>If McCain wins, the primary explanation offered will be >racism

Approximately 90% of black voters voted for Obama. I don't understand how anyone who did not vote for Obama because he's black is a racist, and how everyone that did vote for him because he's black is enlightened. Obama speaks well and looks good in a suit, but who is he? Has he done anything, other than not being a Republican, to warrant his election? This was a clear victory of style over substance. The results scare the hell out of me.

[Rebekah K]

I seriously doubt that we will be putting the stigma of racism behind us until enough people stand up and tell the general populace to grow the heck up and take responsibility for their own lives, black, white, red or green.

From what I've seen of his playing the "post-racial" card to the nth power, I don't see Obama being that kind of leader.

Of course, I didn't see McCain being that kind of leader, either. Or, for that matter, ANY kind of leader. He was just a decent man -- something I can't say about most Chicago politicians....