The New nihal.com Manifesto

So we voted in 2000 for the guy we’d rather have a beer with.

Fast forward to 2007. America is entangled in a war, looking desperately for a way out. Our foreign policy has done more to stoke the embers of religious fundamentalism than Osama could’ve dared to dream. The nation’s thirst for oil sold by Middle Eastern dictators is limitless. One in six is without health insurance, and a Costa Rican baby can expect to live longer than an American one. Russia is threatening to re-aim missiles at Europe. Our airports are bursting at the seams, but we poke fun of those silly French trains that travel at 350mph. If a better case can be made for intelligence, experience and thoughtfulness in the White House, well, I can’t make one.

So it’s probably a good thing that our presidential election is off to a two year head start. Both the candidates and the electorate could use all the time they can get to propose and debate solutions to these complex problems. Unfortunately, that discussion is led by a ratings-hungry press that would prefer to Paris Hiltonize the debate. Gay marriage? Evolution? Abortion? Will Rudy’s three marriages play in the heartland? Isn’t Al Gore too fat to run? Is America ready for a woman president? How about one with an Arab-sounding middle name?

Let’s try something different. Over the next few months, this site will try to point out the most important issues facing America. Think of nihal.com as an alternate voice to the news channels that use current events and politics to entertain, rather than inform and stimulate debate. Posts will be short, ideas will be crisp, and clichés will be kept to a minimum.

Wolf Blitzer has a cooler name. Ann Coulter has nicer hair. But neither is doing a very good job of steering our national debate toward the issues that matter. We’ll give it our best shot.