Tim O’Hara, UAW Local 1112, Lordstown, Ohio

Changing times for the better

I wrote an article for Solidarity magazine in 1992 called, "Time for a change," about the presidential election between Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush.

Reading it again 16 years later, I find the striking similarities between then and now definitely justify the old saying that history does indeed repeat itself.

Back then presidency had been under Republican rule since 1981 with another Bush occupying the White House. The economy was voters’ top concern, and the majority expressed an overwhelming desire for change.

Here we are in 2008 and the problems we face are so much greater. Recession, wars, foreclosures, bank failures, plant closings, skyrocketing health care costs and unfair trade deals. The list is long, and it will take hard work to improve things. But failure is not an option.

More than 80 percent of Americans recently polled said they believe the United States is on the wrong track.

How many of you reading this honestly believe Sen. John McCain is the person who will put our nation on the right track?

How many of you believe Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, his choice for vice president, is ready at a moment’s notice to become the leader of the free world?

McCain always says how dangerous the world is, yet he’s putting the security of the nation into the hands of Palin just to win over women voters. That’s not good judgment. It’s the same old Bush politics that got us into this mess.

During the last 40 years, anti-union and anti-worker politicians have used wedge issues to divide us and win elections, while at the same time touting economic and trade policies sending our manufacturing base into a spiral and destroying our middle class.

I hear people say they don’t have a real choice in this election.

Yes, you do. You can live in the past and repeat the mistakes of Bush-Cheney by electing McCain-Palin.

Or you can look to the future and better days ahead for you, your family and America by electing Obama-Biden.

Change for change’s sake doesn’t always work. Change for the better does.

Let’s take our country back on Nov. 4.

Tim O’Hara is financial secretary of the CMT-CAP Council in Lordstown.

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