The differences in the language between Obama & McCain.

I listened closely last evening to each of the canidates at the "service forum." Repeatedly, McCain talked about "reforming" Washington. Obama, on the other hand kept using the word "transforming" when talking about Washington and the way government does its business.

I think the nuance between those two words is important.

REFORM: make changes for improvement in the existing order

TRANSFORM: change from one form or medium into another.

McCain, voting with Bush over 90% of the time wants to "reform" or "tweak" the government, but for the most part is fine with the government the way it is. Government, in McCain's view isn't broken, it's just "banged up." "Pull out the dents, put a little bondo on it, make it look shiny and new and everything will be fine," is the attitude of McCain. He doesn't think the engine needs any work.

Obama wants to "transform" the government. He views the government as broken and is calling for fundamental changes to the way the government does business. Obama wants to trade vehicles, because the old one is beyond repair (reform). He wants to get rid of the broken-down jalopy and replace it with a new fuel-efficient, smooth-handling ride.

The question voters have to ask themselves is: "Is the government broken?" McCain says it is, because most of the voters say it is. But his solution to the problem belies a different belief. For the wealthy, (McCain's base) government isn't broken. The rich are getting richer in this country on the backs of the poor. Therefore, they don't see the need for "transformation." They really don't want "reformation," but they know they can't say that and have any chance of winning.

Obama says it's broken, and is proposing changes that will actually make real transformative changes to government. The middle-class and the poor are being squeezed at every turn. Government isn't working for them. They turn the key, but the engine won't start, and it's not just the battery that's the problem. The engine is burned up. Jobs are being shipped overseas, the economy is swirling around in the toilet, and we're in a pointless war in Iraq that is robbing the treasury of the funds it needs to help in the areas of education, healthcare, energy-independence, etc. All the while, the war-profiteers are getting richer and richer. Why would the wealthy want to end this war?---it's making them even more wealthy. Meanwhile.....

So, listen closely, folks. This election is about the issues. This election is about "change" and who can deliver it. In reality, though, "change" is only a campaign slogan for McCain. For Obama, it's a strategy to put our country back on the right track. For Obama, and hopefully for the country after he's elected, it's a way of life.