What do candidates mean by " change " .To me that is not the fundamental problem in political discourse because what they are really referring to is the give & take of pro vs con of a variety of issues . This will always be with us no matter what & the only way to ameliorate it is to have an overwhelming majority of one party & a president of the same party . In this respect a parliamentry system may have significant advantages over our US system where we have to let an incompetent president run out his time in office w/o significant results & propositions which result in gridlock .

In the case of Obama, I'd hope for a departure from the reactionary politics of Bush and a move towards a more progressive set of politics.

 

I'm not sure what change McCain is talking about.

Change is one of those nouns that's not really qualitative at all. It requires a modifier, like "good" change, or "positive" change, "constructive" change. By itself it has positive implications without actually stating a positive, but losing your job, home and family and becoming homeless would definitely be "change".

 

It like "quality". Saying "Quality is Job One" means nothing, because quality can be good or bad. I think politicians (probably most advertisers) like nebulous phraseology which can be twisted to suit the occasion.

In the case of Obama' date=' I'd hope for a departure from the reactionary politics of Bush and a move towards a more progressive set of politics.

 

I'm not sure what change McCain is talking about.[/quote']

 

Well, for starters the president would have another name. Two syllables as compared to one, in fact.

Change is the method by which candidates tap into the general discontent of the populace, even when said discontent is unconscious. It's vague for good reason, as this is a popularity contest, and you need to appeal to the greatest number. Details make broad appeal quickly fade.

In the case of Obama, I'd hope for a departure from the reactionary politics of Bush and a move towards a more centrist set of politics.