Who gets your vote: McCain, Obama, or YOU

Overlooked in presidential campaigns are, unfortunately, the interests of the people. Presidency is about power, and consequently lots of promises are made as candidates jockey to offer the best deal to voters. But who really benefits? Seriously, ask yourself. Boiling it down...

Obama offers a lot: higher taxes on the filthy rich, tax cuts to the great unwashed. Increased role of government in pretty much all areas of society. Over $300B in new spending (on top of what's already there). Health care for everyone, regardless of ability to pay (that's huge, in terms of dollars and political ideology).

McCain offers less government, less taxes on everyone, including corporations. An increase in jobs through support to employers.

But what do YOU actually get?

It seems to me that one should vote for himself in any election, meaning that one's own interests should be best reflected in the proposed achievements of the candidate. To vote for one's self isn't selfish - it's mandatory in a capitalist society. Because, the better one does, then the better we all do, one by one. In a country based on the rights of the individual over the interests of the collective, this is the way it's supposed to be.

So my read of the candidates' promises are: First, Obama's numbers don't add up. On October 12th, he said that he wants to redistribute wealth (a basic socialist tenet, by the way), but there's no way he can do the things he wants, including balance the budget, with the numbers he proposes. So, say goodbye to that tax cut "on 95% of working Americans" that he likes to say. As for health care, his proposal is to have those who can pay, fund the health costs of those who can't. More socialism, but a huge ideological shift from the capitalism that made our health care the finest in the world.

McCain, on the other hand, seems to offer a reasonable alternative: cut government. Cut taxes. On everyone. Re-regulate where it's called for (we sure could use that in Maryland's energy sector). View energy as a security issue and move away from oil. These are simple ideas that hav cause and effect at heart, and make much more sense. Consequently, it's doable. Simplicity is always more achievable, mo' better.

And as for YOU, the voter, the taxpayer: The choice is pretty simple: Obama for higher taxes and an ideological shift toward socialism. McCain for lower taxes, less government and a reinforcement of capitalism.

Being a guy who likes freedom, I know where my interests are.