Obama Vs. McCain

Hey Andrew, welcome aboard. Good to see someone else in the Central Florida area. Wow, starting off with politics - you are a brave soul!

I've never understood the stereotype that entrepreneurs are republicans.

The original concept of conservatism is good, but the reality is the party isn't conservative. I think we can all see the Republican party's "free market" idealism doesn't work. Bailouts, unnecessary foreign occupations and country building, medicare prescription program, domestic warrant-less spying, unbalanced budgets, etc are not actions of a conservative party but its what we've seen with this republican leadership.

Aside from the failings of the Republicans, I think there's a lot to like about Obama. He'll make healthcare affordable and available to everyone, provide tax breaks to small businesses who offer healthcare, eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses, etc. In general I think Obama has a far more sound economic plan.

Hi Andrew and welcome,

To get a clearer picture go to this website: www.FirmDecision.org

To me Republicans are not supportive of small business at all. I cannot understand why any small business owner would feel any support the last eight years. Most entrepreneurs I know are Democrats...

However I am not a proponent of the two party system having lived in New Zealand for 12 years with a parliamentary government. It is so much better. Our oppositional elections are archaic.

Hmmm...most entrepreneurs and small business owners I know are Democrats as well. I've always felt that the Republican party was much more supportive of big business. This year most of the Republicans I know are voting for Obama - these individuals are as ready as I am for a major change in US government policies.

Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Vote for me! • StartupNation Home-Based 100

"He'll make healthcare affordable . . ."

There should just be a law that everything that use to cost $10, now cost $5. That way, we can afford twice as much of everything.

Andrew, anyone who is still undecided this close to November 4 sounds pretty disengaged from the political process.

Check the resources in the middle of the page.

My advice: Elect the smart people.

I'd agree with the others; entrepreneurship knows no party but most I know are politically progressive. However, that probably has more to do with the fact that I'm in Portland, Oregon and not somewhere in Florida or elsewhere in the South.

Andrew, I challenge you to vote from more than your pocketbook, and more than for the short term. Your pocketbook and the near term matter a lot but they're not the whole picture. Like any financial strategy, the seeds you sow today, you will reap tomorrow. Only think about "tomorrow" being a decade or two from now.

My instincts tell me that McCain = War. From a psychological, neurolinguistical, energetic and even biblical standpoint ("those who live by the sword will die by the sword"), McCain's language and general disposition are all about fighting and being tough. According to his current stump speech, and I could be butchering this slightly, he's "not afraid to be the tough guy, to make people mad."

I assert that McCain's looking forward to that, whether he'll cop to it or not. It's his comfort zone.

In my opinion, a wartime president's job is to become a peacetime president. That doesn't seem to be high on McCain's list. Economically and ethically, America cannot afford this any longer.

For this and many other reasons, I'm voting for Obama.

Well said Albert.

As a long time republican I have found myself totally immersed in Obama, I like what he has to say, I like how he says it and I like the leadership that he is showing.

I like that Colin Powell has endorsed him and that Warren Buffet is an advisor, I like his take on energy and I do feel that he will direct our country in the right path ecologically.

Well I guess we all know where most Bizniks lie now. With that being said you should all come to my event on election night at the Paragon to discuss this event further. Art T.

I am fascinated by this election season. And recent developments just make it more interesting.

Two observations:

Observation #1 --- A friend brought these two links to my attention. The two charts display what the two candidate's tax plans mean for people depending on their income. Chart Two gives you a better sense of how many people actually make the big bucks too.

Chart One: http://scienceblogs.com/principles/2008/10/the_visual_display_of_politica.php#more

Chart Two: http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i191/hissyspit/taxplans.gif

Observation #2 -- I'm surprised by the number of notable national Republican and Conservative leaders publically endorsing and campaigning for Obama in recent days. And I mean actively campaigning on TV, radio and newspapers, calling for bipartisan support for Obama, in recent days. (Last time I checked, the list includes Retired General and former Sec. of State Colin Powell, at least four former Republican state governors, a conservative radio talk show host, Goldwater family members, the former presidential legal counsel to Reagan and Bush H.W. Bush; and several traditionally Republican newspaper editorial pages, including the Chicago Trubune.) I've compiled some links because the quotes and essays are interesting to read. Reasons vary.

Well, Arthur, I'd say you might know the politics of five Bizniks', but certainly not most Bizniks.

I don't see an event listed for November 4th at Paragon. Link?

Event Nov. 4th? Paragon?
Go..Obama! Entrepreneurs .... vote smart! Very interesting reading everyone! Thanks Jenny Z. for some interesting sites.

Woah, those are awesome graphs, Jenny. Thanks for sharing.

I am a long-time and steadfast entrepreneur and have never been a Republican ... I am not supportive of all Democrat tenets but I cannot support a candidate who solicits my vote by mongering fear and contempt.

Sure, there are bound to be vast holes in Obama's plans and dreams. However, I do not want to live in a country that is united by hate.

I mailed my ballot yesterday; I succumb to Hope.

Well not everyone wants Obama of course but that's to be expected. The event on the 4th has been posted so please come. its in the events section. Art T.

Self employed entrepreneur, fiscally concerned, yellow dog democrat checking in.

Bob Barr for Pres!

Kaya,

Thanks for posting that link to Firm Decision. For those who are too busy to look, the site links to 2 wikipedia lists of public figures who have publicly endorsed one candidate or another.

I found it illuminating that Obama has been endorsed by a whole busload of Nobel Laureates whereas McCain has been endorsed by, um, none.

The relative length of the lists in illuminating too.

Jenny, the link to Chart #2 is a great find. It would be interesting to see how the top 0.9% feel, are they going to stop hiring, creating jobs, running their business because they now have to pay more taxes? I personally think they will find other ways to be more efficient.

Here's an article from the Miami Herald: Small business: Who's better on taxes, Obama or McCain?

Taxes have to be paid. I'd prefer they be as little as possible for everyone. My preference for who pays them (other than not me): the dead, the rich, capital.

For those of you nearing retirement (or those of you who will live long enough to retire):

Candidate Responses to AARP Issues

Hi, Thanks for the new data and links everyone. I'm delighted to see people bring their wisdom, experience, information and opinions forward. (Yummy, Yum-yum. Information!) I'm really enjoying it. -Jenny Z PS VOTE ALERT! Have you mailed in your absentee ballot (if you receive one)? Or have you scheduled election day voting in your dayplanner? That means a specific time, like an appointment. Is it on your to do list? Something to think about.

Oh yes, Suzanne. I was struck by those AARP Q&As. Or rather, by the stark absence of response/position of McCain.

Wikipedia list of endorsements: Wow. That is worth looking at during a coffee break. Thanks Susan.

To me, it's interesting that if I give a generous margin of error of 10 percent and wikipedia weirdness in favor of McCain, ...Obama's list of endorsements is still twice as long as McCain's list of endorsements. (I'm judging my estimate by how many times I click to scroll down.)

I'd encourage folks to look at both lists because you, personally, have unique opinions about whether certain endorsements are a good sign or a bad sign. (Information, yum-yum-yum.)

List of Obama Endorsements http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_endorsements

List of McCain Endorsements http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain_Endorsements

The List of State, Local and Territory Official endorsing Barak Obama is on a different Web Page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Barack_Obama_presidential_campaign_endorsements_from_state,_local_and_territory_officials

My observations related to business (exact numbers might change because wikipedia is organic by nature):

Endorsements from economists Obama: 11 economists, including six Nobel Laureates McCain: 1 economist (?)

Endorsements from 'notable' business people: (Very interesting names and businesses, CEOs, business founders, etc. See lists for details.) Obama: 36 business people McCain: 7 business people

Labor Unions: Obama: 35 (more or less) McCain: None that I can see on this list at this time.

Any factual errors? I welcome corrections.

Wow, good pre-election discussion. I hope some of you at least can make it to the Paragon on election day to discuss this in person. Art T.