The best and brightest?

We live in the best country in the world! Our government, although only 232 years old, is one of the best in the world!

We have some of the best Universities the world has to offer.  Our Universities are filled with the best and brightest of other countries because they know to get the best education they need to be educated on American soil.  In turn those students (most of them) fall in love with this country and decided to stay here, work here, raise families here, and fulfill the American dream.  As a result their countries are in an intellectual deficit.

Our founders framed a country that was by the people and for the people.  We have a say in what our government does.  They represent us as a whole in the way they vote.  They founded our freedoms in the Constitution and it has survived to this day as a complete document still governing our society.  It was extremely well thought out from the ground up.  While you may not agree with everything our government does, which it would be odd if you did, you would be hard pressed to find another better or even equal to it.  The fact that you can openly disagree with our government without fear of reprise is a testament to its greatness.

The United States is the most philanthropic nation in the world.  When there is a disaster anywhere in the world Americans are the first on the scene to offer Aide through our non-profit companies like the American Red Cross as well as huge sums of money from our federal government.  We take care of the world in times of need.  We come to the defense of our allies that can not defend themselves.  Some people call that the world police but if we do not take up for our allies then they will be taken over by our enemies.  The heart and bravery of our country is unparalleled throughout the world.

I said all of that to say this...  With a country full of the brightest, most caring, and wealthiest people in the world we end up with Obama and McCain as our only choice for the leader of the free world.  In my opinion these are not our brightest, our best.  Take off your blue jersey or red jersey for a second and realize that to make it to that level you have to be willing to play the political game which means you lend your ear to the lobbyist in return you get money for your campaign.  All that is required is you swing your power to look out for their best interests.  The best politicians never make it far enough to get voted on because they are not willing to sell their beliefs to the highest bidder.  This may sound like a contradiction to the first part of the post where I said that this is the best government in the world.  It has it's flaws but it is still the best.  We need reform at the top level, we need more than two parties to choose from, we need the lobbyist out of Washington and let this country get back to being run by the people and for the people.  We need honest politicians to choose from that are not going to sell their votes but will stand up for what they believe in.  Is Obama going to do that for us?  Is McCain?  The short answer is no.  You can be a Democrat or a Republican but I think it is dishonest to say they are the best we have to offer or that everything they do is right just because you wear the same jersey.

Vote for who you want to but if you do not vote then you have not earned the right to complain.  You still have time to register!