Yesterday, after attending a couple of hearings on the hill regarding genocide and mass atrocities in Africa, I happened upon a Climate Crisis Action Day rally in front of the Capitol building to support the permanent protection of areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by taking action to stop the effects of global warming.  A variety of representatives from both the House and Senate gave compelling speeches to support initiatives that would end the climate crisis we currently find ourselves in.  As I was leaving the area of the rally there was an older gentleman selling shirts, bumper stickers, and buttons with slogans like “America Needs Al Gore 2008”.  I, after pulling out the entire contents of my briefcase in my search for a dollar, bought one of his buttons, hoping that my dollar would be the one that would push Mr. Gore over the edge, forcing him to throw his hat into the next presidential race. 

Then, I woke up this morning ashamed with myself.  When did I become a one issue voter?  The kind of people I ridicule for not thinking their voting decisions through, for voting on only one issue, when there is so much more to take into account.  So I thought to myself, what else is there when it comes to Al Gore, why would I want him as President when I have not yet heard his stance on how to get America out of Iraq or how he plans to deal with the growing divide between the rich and poor in our country.  What about healthcare, social security, the economy, education, foreign policy… there is so much more to this election than global warming, but honestly when other candidates talk about these issues are do they really ever say anything substantial? 

We hear the democratic candidates ranting about how it would be irresponsible of President Bush to push this Iraq War onto the next president, but it’s become apparent that he will.  When president, whoever wins, can no longer blame Bush for being in this endless war, they’ll have to take action.  I want to know what that person will do.  Will s/he withdraw troops? If so, when, how, and will s/he redeploy troops in other areas of the region?  What are the long-term goals and the security of Iraqi citizens? How will s/he define success?

What about the other issues, like health care reform?  Universal health care sounds great to me, but how? Where is the plan?  Where is the funding?  Issue after issue, great ideas have been spouted, but never followed by a concrete realistic plan. 

 
So back to Al Gore, I think to myself… why not be a one issue voter; at least he has a plan for his issue, a workable plan.  And if we don’t, as a global community, tackle this one issue, sooner or later the others may not matter.