By David Hopper

We are only one week away from election day, so I thought it appropriate to put forth my final appeal for your vote to go to Barack Obama. Here is my personal list of reasons why I will be voting for the President for a second term:

The Supreme Court: I think the most important reason to re-elect Barack Obama is to maintain a progressive influence within the federal court system, especially in the Supreme Court. There are four justices (Breyer, Ginsberg, Scalia, and Kennedy) who are 75 years old and older, and may be nearing the age of retirement. It is very possible that the next president will have the opportunity to appoint four new justices to replace them, and this could have a huge impact on society. Roe v. Wade may be in jeopardy and Citizens United would be solidified for decades if Governor Romney is elected because the composition of the court could feasibly go from a 5-4 conservative majority to a 7-2 conservative majority. It is not difficult to imagine that this could have serious ramifications for the right to choose, the right to not have elections bought and paid for, and any number of other defining issues that may arise for the foreseeable future. The Economy: Yes, the job market is still terrible. But it is also still true that Obama played no role in bringing about the recession and he has done a fair job of helping the economy recover. His stimulus, while it did not bring unemployment down to under 6%, did help create or save millions of jobs and increase GDP. Additionally, the auto bailout also saved over one million jobs. The DJIA has also returned to a healthy level of just over 13,000 as of October 30, up from its level of around 8,000 when Obama was elected. So the job market is improving, investment is healthy, and GDP is growing. All of these indicators suggest that President Obama’s policies have worked. Additionally, Obama has implemented Wall Street regulations that, while not as tough as they should be, do at least attempt to hinder the ability of Wall Street gambling to tank the economy like it did in 2008. Romney does not support regulations, and it is not unreasonable to think that his policies would potentially lead to another financial disaster. Budget Fairness: There is no question that the mounting national debt is an issue of huge concern. Republicans have been hammering Obama for doubling the deficit during his presidency, but the fact is that deficits during recessions are an unfortunate necessity. Cutting taxes and using spending to stimulate the economy are not radical new ideas for dealing with recessions, and these measures inevitably lead to deficits. The question is who has a plan to pay down the debt now that we are in a recovery in a balanced way? It is definitely not Mitt Romney, who would slash taxes for millionaires even as he drastically cuts programs that benefit the poor. The idea should be shared sacrifice, but Romney’s plan asks nearly everybody to sacrifice except those at the top who can actually afford to make sacrifices. This is plainly unjust. Obama has called for an increase in top tax rates that create a balanced approach to cutting the deficit. Neither plan actually balances the budget, but at least Obama’s plan does not ask those with less means to bear more of a burden. Plus, Obama’s priorities are in the right place as his budget focuses more on education and infrastructure, while Romney’s increases funds to our military budget, which already accounts for 40% of global military spending. Healthcare: The Affordable Care Act is far from being perfect. It is argued that it infringes on economic liberty of Americans while also injecting government bureaucrats into healthcare decisions. Not to mention, insurance companies really made out on this deal because everybody who can afford health insurance has to buy their product. That being said, the mandate, while it may be distasteful to liberals and conservatives, is necessary for the benefits of the law that everyone likes, like prohibiting insurers from refusing to cover pre-existing conditions, to be feasible from a cost standpoint. In order for everyone to get low cost care, you need everyone (including the low risk people) to be insured to offset the cost of the high risk people. This law will help reduce costs of healthcare while offering the insured more protections. Governor Romney has vowed to repeal the reforms, which would undo the progress that will help millions of Americans. The Social Safety Net: President Obama offers a stark contrast to the Romney-Ryan ticket when it comes to Medicare and Social Security. It is true that these programs as they are need to be retooled to be sustainable. However, the approach put forth by Congressman Ryan in Congress, which was endorsed by Governor Romney, is to radically alter these programs by making Medicare a voucher system and privatizing Social Security. This is not good for American seniors, who will see their already modest retirement benefits dwindle in the coming years if we have a President Romney. Environment and Energy: President Obama has always been about decreasing dependence on foreign oil, and he has accomplished this feat during his first term in office. Our domestic oil and natural gas production has increased and the President has also aggressively invested in renewable energy sources. We must begin building a power infrastructure around renewable sources such as wind and solar so that we aren’t completely screwed when oil sources begin to diminish and the cost of oil begins to skyrocket. Also, when it comes to environmental protection and climate change, I think we all know which party has the better record. Foreign Policy: The President has had his share of foreign policy snags, including the recent Benghazi fiasco, but who hasn’t? He also has an impressive list of foreign policy accomplishments. He killed Osama bin Laden and ended the Iraq War. Enough said. Equal Rights: The President repealed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” signed the equal pay Lilly Ledbetter Act, and has voiced his support for gay marriage. He also has shown a compassionate stance on illegal immigration that allows for exceptions when children came to the United States at a very young age. Romney has shown no support for such things: he does not support marriage equality, he has not (despite his binders full of women remark) taken affirmative steps to tackle wage inequality of women, he vowed to defund Planned Parenthood, and he has presented a harsh illegal immigration policy that leads to “self-deportation.” It is an easy choice on these issues. Income Inequality: As a result of trickle down economics, we have seen a greater share of this country’s wealth go to the top income earners. I would like to see a shift away from policies that attack workers, like stripping away union rights and increasing free trade. Obama has continued the detrimental tradition of signing free trade agreements, but he has shown that he is a friend to unions. Unions are imperfect and do have many problems associated with them, but they are an essential part of healthy middle class wages for low skill workers. Aside from the personal benefit to the worker, we all benefit when these people make more money because they can afford to buy more which is good for business. Republicans at the state and local level have attacked unions, and it is difficult to imagine that a Romney presidency would do anything to halt the attacks on unions. Personal Qualities: I think both of these men have lived incredibly successful lives and are decent men. They both have shown commitment to family, God and community. However, a personal examination reveals the ultimate world view of each of the candidates. The President has spent his life trying to help those less fortunate than himself, whether as a community organizer, civil rights attorney, or public servant. Romney, on the other hand, has devoted his life to the almighty dollar. There is nothing wrong with pursuing wealth, but his quest for wealth has led him to chase profits even at the expense of the livelihoods of average working Americans. While at Bane, he had no reservations about acquiring huge sums of money even if it came as a result of outsourcing or layoffs. These distinctions offer a stark contrast in values between these two gentlemen. Do you want a president who wants to help you or do you want a president who merely wants to add immense power to his immense fortune? For me, this is an easy call. Obama 2012.

I think the choice on November 6 is clear. There are compelling reasons for voting for Governor Romney, but I believe President Obama has earned a second term. But whoever you support, these issues deserve the attention of every American, so make sure you vote!