Usually, this site is devoted purely to technology, but every once in while another issue comes up that is more important than anything I could say about Linux or technology. Today, I am going to put aside tech and explain why it is essential that Barack Obama be our next president.

As I began to write this post, one question came to my mind: why? I am not a known figure. No one cares what I think, right? After all, I am just some guy with a blog. That may be true, but the discussion is important. Democracy is about more than just a vote – it is your voice. Based on this belief, I would encourage anyone who writes for a website or blog, which can be just about everyone now, to voice your opinion on political issues you feel are important, regardless of what subject you usually cover. Technology is amazing and the internet has done many things for us, but one of its most powerful potentials is to give everyone with an opinion a voice and a chance to hear others’ views, directly from the individual. Use this power. It matters.

That said, this is why I believe Barack Obama should be the next President of the United States of America:

Technology – Barack Obama gets it. We are entering an age where the internet is changing the world. Just look at what I said above. Suddenly, anyone can talk to the world, not just to their neighbor. Suddenly, news can spread faster than ever before. It makes a difference in everyday life, too. No matter if we are talking about random trivia or the most important political decisions of our generation, the internet has allowed a greater amount of information, delivered faster, and with more viewpoints.

This election’s candidates offer a stark contrast. While Barack Obama has consistently made headlines for his campaign’s progressive use of the internet to connect with voters and raise funds, John McCain, by his own admission is only learning to use computers. In an age where cyber threats, as they are called, are starting to have potential consequences on the level of traditional threats, the possibility of having a President with only a marginal understanding of technology concerns me. Neither candidate is going to directly manage the government’s technology system, but our President must understand that cyber threats and technology related issues are important and must be considered along side other pressing issues.

As far as Barack Obama’s technology policy goes, I would encourage you to watch Obama’s recently released video on technology policy and read his website’s page on technology. Three of Obama’s main points are particularly important to me. Right now, with studies showing the US is trailing in broadband penetration, speed, and affordability, it is very important to make broadband access both universally available and affordable. Barack Obama also supports ensuring net neutrality and an open internet. As Obama’s plan says, “A key reason the Internet has been such a success is because it is the most open network in history.” We cannot sacrifice this openness simply to appease ISPs that would like to see higher profits. This would potentially jeopardize the openness that allows anyone to easily express his or her views. Finally, we must educate the next generation with a focus on science and technology, two fields of increasing global importance.

America’s Reputation Oversees – Jon Stewart of The Daily Show made a joke some time ago that has always struck me as a real point. During Obama’s trip to Europe, he was greeted with large crowds waving American flags. Stewart joked that this was fairly standard, except that those flags were usually on fire. It is a sad statement on how the US’s reputation oversees has fallen in the past 8 years, but it is, unfortunately, largely true. Obama’s election would do a lot to help our reputation, not just oversees, but even here in America.

This may seem like an unimportant point, but it is not. The United States has lost the respect of the world, largely through failed foreign policy, particularly in Iraq. In order for our nation to remain a world leader, this has to change. Electing John McCain would not, I believe, help the situation. Electing Barack Obama, on the other hand, would greatly improve our reputation.

Taxes And The Economy - The US economy, and most of the world’s economy, is not in the best of shape, to say the least. Just look at each candidate’s views on taxes. John McCain has been continually stressing that we need to cut taxes for everyone, but I don’t agree. We don’t have to cut taxes for everybody, we need to cut taxes for people who need it – people who are struggling. Barack Obama seems to agree. He had been advocating a tax break, or at least no raise, for those earning under $250,000 a year. That’s not socialism, that’s smart.

Sarah Palin – I have supported Barack Obama since the primaries, but John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his VP nominee only made me a stronger support of Obama. Granted, neither Obama nor Palin can claim to have many years of experience, but in the time that Palin has been in the public eye, she has not impressed me. Sure, Sarah Palin, like Obama, has some strange past connections, but that is not what worries me. What worries me is the way she was initially sealed off from the media. Then, when she finally did talk to the press, she managed to come off very badly in her interview with Couric. Since then, I have not seen anything to convince me that she really knows what she is talking about. The VP’s job is to be ready to be president. I don’t believe Sarah Palin is.

This post is already longer than just about anything I have written here before and I have only touched on a few of the issues that are important to me. I have not even mentioned each candidate’s views on health care, energy independence, and a number of other important issues in this year’s historic elections. If you have not already, I encourage you to spend some time reading through each candidate’s views on whatever issues concern you. I hope that I have at least gotten some people thinking, even if I convinced no one. In the end, the important thing is that you cast your vote based on which candidate’s policies you support, not based only on the views of those around you, or, worse, on nothing. November 4th is election day. Go vote.