Social Responsibility Questions and the Presidential Race

A day after the Texas, Ohio, RI and Vermont primaries, and the Democratic nomination is once again totally unclear. It’s time to ask how social responsibility issues will affect this election.

Both Obama and Clinton are talking about change, but neither is really putting forward a dramatic change agenda. Clinton has taken heat for her vote for the war, Obama (whom I’ve endorsed, in spite of his shortcomings) for what seems at times like empty rhetoric, and McCain for flip-flopping on torture and on campaign finance reform. And both Clinton and Obama have made some good noises on climate change.

Meanwhile, I haven’t heard any of them talking about business ethics, a meaningful exit strategy in Iraq, or the questions of poverty raised by the Edwards campaign–to name just a few.

I think the American people are ready for a candidate who is willing to go beyond rhetoric and propose substantive social change, especially in health care and the war. Unfortunately, the Democrats have driven out the multiple candidates who put forth those positions, the Republicans apparently have no interest, and our system treats third parties as thrown away votes (unlike most of Europe).

Meanwhile, the mainstream media focuses on “soma” (a word invented by Aldous Huxley in his book, Brave New World) like the shenanigans of Britney Spears.