Political Science

Hope for the future vs.
A desperate clinging to the past.

Differences between the 2004 and 2008 United States elections are myriad to say the least. Some of the more apparent examples being non-incumbent candidates during war time, stark age differences between the leading candidates and the apparent in-fighting of the democratic caucus. However, there are two key differences or events that seem to define the political cultural changes between the two elections. In the following, both the seeming total economic meltdown of the US just prior to the election and the nomination of the first racially hyphenated candidate will be discussed. These two differences bring out the fundamental differences between the 2004 and the 2008 elections.

The sub-prime mess and subsequent stock market run just prior to the election dramatically changed the atmosphere of the respective campaigns. Whereas during the 2004 elections, the economy was relatively stable, the very real picture facing both candidates and Americans alike, was a great depression style melt-down. Unlike the great depression which had been overseen by Herbert Hoover, then 7 months into his term, this economic downturn found an out going president and two would be candidates facing the biggest economic crises in the century. Again, contrasting this too the 2004 elections, outside of a war, that was at best nebulous, most Americans were not yet fearing for their jobs or lively hoods. It is within this fact alone that the 2004 and 2008 and related political cultural were drastically affected and changed.

Probably the most obvious factor in the change of political culture between the 2004 and 2008 elections was who was running. The fact that during the 2004 elections the American people were presented by the classic two white males paradigm and subsequently, were faced with a new more inclusive paradigm in 2008 shifted the atmosphere and in some respects the debate itself. Furthermore, the fact that Obama is a hyphened American most certainly led to McCains rather odd choice of Sara Palin, an unvetted Alaskan governor, as a  vice presidential running mate.

From all white to a plurality of ethnicity, from economic stability to near total collapse of the finical sector these key components mark motivating forces in the change of political culture between the elections of 2004 and 2008. Had these factors not been present, the differences between the 2004 and 2008 elections might have been in players only if even that. In contrast, it will be telling to see, what the 2012 elections hold.

Part II Political  Leaning.
Although I came up with a result that I liked the test itself is flawed in many respects. The fact that my near communist leanings coupled with Gandhi like political leanings speaks volumes. Personally, I have no issues with using force, when force is needed however, in our current political climate, force is often used as the first means of dealing with issues rather than the finial means. As for the economic side, perhaps the reason I have communistic leanings lies in the fact that the free markets has been so warped by large corporations, that the only power left to equalize the playing field is the state.  Over all, the test is fun, and should be seen as an entertainment type test and not that of actual data gathering. In conclusion, many of the test questions, were biased, and presented all or nothing type questions. It is in this way that the test itself was biased towards a way of thinking that is both harmful and dangerous when dealing in politics. The fact that former president Bush, dared speak the line You are either with us, or with the terrorists is an apt example of the dangers in thinking and acting in such a manner.