With all the chatter about the various nits and nats of one candidate or the other both here and in the media, is our choice really all that complicated?

We have John McCain, who for the most part says that he will continue the policies of the last two administrations. He will attempt to do that with a Democratic House and Senate. It would seem that the chances for any meaningful legislative change on almost any issue will be difficult for either the President or the Congress to achieve.

The other candidate, Barack Obama, says he stands for substantial change on a number of important issues facing the U.S. He would be working with a Congress of his own party, possibly with enough of a plurality to achieve cloture.

There are risks associated with the choice of either candidate. A lot of the criticisms of one candidate or the other discussed here and in the media are superfluous or at least very narrow when considered in light of the underlying choice. Is our decision on who to vote for in November any more complicated than making the following choice?

If you are satisfied with the governance of the last eight years, vote for John McCain. If you believe that a change in the direction and emphasis of our government is needed, vote for Barack Obama.