A difference of ideology; a difference in tactics.

Conservative bloggers such as Pat Santy have authored numerous discussions on the dangers of socialism, and how this ideology aims to destroy the individual. Democrats, such as Orson Scott Card, have also remarked on how dangerous this road taken by the Democratic party really is.

A new spotlight in the American political scene fell on the most unlikely person in our entire country: Joe Wurzelbacher, aka Joe-the-plumber. Not some Hollywood star or a famous sports figure. Not some famous billionaire or a retired general. Just your average guy, from a very ordinary neighborhood. In a story reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, this man would have happily remained off the political radar if it were not for a visit by the leading candidate for the presidency of the United States, a visit to Joe's front lawn. Joe asked candidate Obama a very straightforward question: will I pay more in taxes. All of a sudden, there were no teleprompters to turn to and candidate Obama gave one of his most honest answers during his entire campaign. He said: "Joe it is not that I want to punish your success....I think when you spread the wealth around it is good for everybody." There it is, Obama really does believe in a socialist system of governing. He really does want there to be an equality of outcome rather than an equality of opportunity. This statement was radioactive. It completely revitalized the Republican campaign and caused an incredible detour to take place in the Democratic campaign. What followed exposed the essential difference in how each party perceives what Americans want, and how each party intends to govern this country. The current Democratic party believes in the greater collective good. Joe became an obstacle in their path to glorious victory and he was punished for it. A policy of personal attacks against this very average American citizen was directed from the Obama campaign. This average middle class American became their enemy. His credentials for work were publicly questioned and he was denounced as a republican plant. Was Joe really a plumber? What business does he have being out on his front lawn anyway? Does Joe have enough education to understand and question Obama,...? The Republicans on the other hand applauded Joe and supported him. This was seen much more widely in the bloggosphere than was reported on in main newspapers. It is really difficult to hear objective reporting from the MSM these days, but that is another story. So Obama and the democrats want to destroy Joe and the Republicans are screaming: "We are Joe."

Who is this Joe and what does he represent to each party? I see him as another American citizen who is pursuing the American dream. One party wants to trample his individual rights, because he is an obstacle on their quest for power, and the other group stands with Joe and internalizes his individual pursuit of happiness. There is my take on the essential differences in ideology during this election, and how this difference has led one party to try to destroy Joe-the-plumber, while another party has chosen to fight on Joe's behalf. One party represents the collective, while the other the individual. This is why Obama cannot recall the name of the soldier whose bracelet he wore during one the debates, and he wore it despite the protest from this fallen soldier's family. This is why Biden tells such lovely stories about a local shop, but when the facts of his story are checked, the details turn out to be false. Individuals are not important to them. This is why Obama's brother lives in hovel and a school named after him has not received any of his help. On the other hand, McCain adopted children from impoverished countries and personally cares for their welfare. When visiting foreign lands, he makes certain to stop and visit our soldiers there. These individuals matter to him. He hasn't done enough to discredit some of his critics, because a personal attack on these individuals goes against McCain's core values. Come November, you will be asked to make a choice: Rights of the individual vs rights of the state.

As public spotlight was cast on Joe, this "ring of power" and burden became his to bear. A very unlikely hero for in the eyes of the Democratic Party machine, but the quintessential American for many. In answering Obama's latest headline, the one about being too far ahead of McCain for any chance of a Republican success, I will quote from The Return of the King: “It’s like in the great stories. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you... Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something. That there’s some good in this world. And it’s worth fighting for.” Good luck John and Sarah.