Campaign about perception

Political campaigns are about perception. In this political season, the Republicans are bent on creating the perception that the nation is in decline, thanks to Barak Obama; and the Democrats are surely gong-ho about their own message that the nation is in a much better place, and the sky is the limit of future gains.  Well, both sides have to make these contrasting cases to win in November, but regardless of what the motives are, only one of these message is more true than the other.

Let's start with decline. America is back to a point where another nation (China) is challenging its economic preeminence status, at least if you look at some metrics. America is no longer the number 1 in key economic and standard of life metrics (and this has been going on for more than a decade). Unemployment is quite high at 8.1, dependence on entitlements is climbing (well, 250,000 boomers are added to the roll every single day, and will continue to be for the next half a decade or so), and poverty rate has increased for the first time in more than two decades (what a great recession will do to a nation). So, it is indeed possible to make the case that the nation in is decline, that is until you take off the blinders.

Today, the United States of America retains the most powerful military in the world, by far; the number one economy in the world by the most recognized measure, GDP; the most innovative country in the world - still number one, by far, in new multi-billion dollar ventures; has the best Universities in the world, and just in case you missed it, the only nation that has ventured near another Planet,  Mars! Just a few weeks ago, the United States NASA sponsored rover landed successfully on another Planet (second Mars mission in a decade). This United States lead all nations of the World in a lot of key metrics and can continue to do so, with the right investments - that was the pitch of the Democrats in Charlottes, North Carolina,  last week.

So, campaigns are about perception. Once campaign frames a reality of a nation in decline. Another frames the reality of a nation in ascendancy. 

In 2010, President Obama passed the affordable care act. A law that finally put an end to medical care as a privilege, and moves the needle towards medical care as a right, accessible to all. Last year, for the first time, the rate of growth of medical services cost stopped growing faster than GDP. Seniors payed less per head for prescription drugs (due to shrinking donut hole and general rebates from HHS), and many families have started receiving premium rebates from their Insurance companies. Next year, it is estimated that premiums will go down for many families - fulfilling a promise made by the President. 

In 2010, the War in Iraq came to an end! In 2014, the nation's longest war, the war in Afghanistan will also be over. The total annual cost of both wars topped 100 billion in 2009. In 2014, that cost will be zero! That money can go towards paying down the debt and investment in the economy. So, is this positive or negative direction?

Also, for the first time in a generation, the US is importing less fuel to meet its domestic energy needs, and if the President's economy is continued, by 2025, the US could be importing less than 25% of its energy needs! This President would have delivered on promises made by many Presidents before him, dating back to the early twentieth century, in the days of Republican Theodore Roosevelt. 

So, while one party tries to sell the nation short, as being in decline, it is imperative that Americans familiarize themselves with the fact, that the nation is actually on the mend (from the self imposed crises of the Republican led Bush administration), and in many cases remain in ascendancy. For the first time ever, the minority achievement gap is closing, and American students performance is on the rise. Indeed, the nation could soon regain its perch on the college completion index once again. 

And this nation can now lead the world boldly with its moral authority. Its treatment of minority and diverse way of life can be seen as a model. The best authority a nation has is that derived from its morals.