Next week you, the American voter, will be asked to go to your polling place and cast your vote for a candidate for the office of president of the United States Of America. This is one of your civic duties as a member of this society. But if you go to vote for a personality instead of an ideal then you are the one wasting your vote. Personalities have put us in the position we find ourselves in the world.
I ask you to go to the websites of ALL candidates in your area, read stands of the issues, make notes and then make the decision based on who you think will best serve the country and its people. Do not labels make your decision for you. Name calling is just a lame attempt to scare you into doing something you know is not productive. This country is facing many crises and they must be handled properly by the next president, but you must decide if the candidate is capable of making needed decisions.
Yes there are others wanting to be president besides the traditional Republican and Democrat. Parties like the Libertarians, Greens, Independents all are seeking the chance to run this country. Are they capable? That is the question you must ask yourself before you cast your vote. THat is why you must be armed with information on each candidate regardless of the party affliation. If you do not then you are lazy and taking the easy way out. Because of this laziness we have had about twenty years of horrible leadership. And over 60 years of leadership that cares little of the plight of the average American, it has been about making the country a world leader in global trade and finance, all the while many Americans have been forced into stark poverty. All in the name of democracy.
Now is the time to either look to the future or glance back to the past. Your vote will move the United States into a bright future for your fellow Americans or we can just remain in the past and suffer the slings and arrows of our choice. We are facing two wars that seem to have NO end, we are in the middle of a horrible economic crisis and a crumbling infrastructure; your vote will decide where the country will go and how it will face the growing number of problems.
By all means–get out and vote! This is your ONLY chance to influence the direction of the country. Make It Count!
How very well stated this is, as always, lobotero.
Thanx my friend, but will anyone listen? Doubtful, huh?
Hi there, I just got back from voting. I was lucky–no line. Only five booths, as my district has a low voter registration because of the high immigrant/non-citizen population.
I had to do it… I voted for Obama (against my will?)… I was going to vote McKinney, especially since CA is Blue anyway.
But at the last moment, these thoughts that have plagued me over the past few weeks REALLY got to me in that voting booth:
“Why take a chance in such a critical election?”
“Who knows how much the ‘Bradley effect’ might come into play in this election?”
“Can I really afford a McPalin administration? If they win, where will I move to? England? Sweden? Canada? Can I even afford to relocate? ( 🙂 )”
“Isn’t McKinney a bit crazy? Can I really vote for a crazy person–even if her platform, for the most part, agrees with my politics, and even if I want to give the Greens a vote to show people that we still exist?”
“But shouldn’t I take a stand and vote Green? Should I stand by my principles?”
At the last moment, I tallied Obama. I guess I sold out to the two-party system once again…(?)
I just can’t wait til this day is over. I’m getting used to the idea of an Obama presidency. I know that a McPalin presidency would NEVER sit well with me–just like W’s. I still can’t believe W was elected TWICE.
I was an idealists yet again, I went with Nader…..again I voted on issues and not the person. I liked McKinney but her platform was a bit thin for the Green Party.
Yes, McKinney’s really more of a Democrat-gone-wild.
Say, I’ve been thinking. I feel like I’ve got to go work for the Green Party and try to “revamp” it somehow, over the next four years. I get laughed at for being Green, but it should not be a source of entertainment! The Green Party just needs to get it together, to be taken more seriously. With the advent of the Internet age it is now a bit more possible to “advertise” or reach out to voters “for free.” Still the big money-machines (Democrats and the GOP) will own TV advertising. Greens can’t afford a million dollar commercial slots, and won’t be able to afford them anytime soon.
The problem with this whole system is that money generates advertising, which generates power/strength in numbers, which generates more money, and so on. The Greens (or any Third Party) can’t even squeeze in anywhere in that cycle. We really have neither money nor power. But I want to change that! It’s all so frustrating to me! I feel like I’ve got to make it a mission to help the Green Party grow, or to start my own damn Party!
Too bad I have stage fright. Otherwise I would’ve gone into politics myself 🙂
Yes, McKinney’s really more of a Democrat-gone-wild.
Say, I’ve been thinking. I feel like I’ve got to go work for the Green Party and try to “revamp” it somehow, over the next four years. I get laughed at for being Green, but it should not be a source of entertainment! The Green Party just needs to get it together, to be taken more seriously. With the advent of the Internet age it is now a bit more possible to “advertise” or reach out to voters “for free.” Still the big money-machines (Democrats and the GOP) will own TV advertising. Greens can’t afford a million dollar commercial slots, and won’t be able to afford them anytime soon.
The problem with this whole system is that money generates advertising, which generates power/strength in numbers, which generates more money, and so on. The Greens (or any Third Party) can’t even squeeze in anywhere in that cycle. We really have neither money nor power. But I want to change that! It’s all so frustrating to me! I feel like I’ve got to make it a mission to help the Green Party grow, or to start my own damn Party!
Too bad I have stage fright. Otherwise I would’ve gone into politics myself 🙂
Good luck with that–the Greens have let the party dry up. In the beginning they were a good idea but like all good ideas it had to be worked to be successful. I have written a page on a successful third party which is my ideas on what it will take…unfortunately money is the most important. I am always looking for a good third party, there are very few.
Your Sucessful Third Party page is a really good guideline. Unfortunately, money is where it all starts. And the Green party has gone to shits, in my opinion… but I wouldn’t even know where to begin in the process of generating some cash(?). Aaah, sigh, it’s too bad that I’ve been an idealist, but never much of a pragmatist…
I’m so relieved that McPalin was stopped from running this country down any further than it has by the Bush administration. Obama’s win is also a great victory for civil rights, and I am warming up to him a bit more each day. But it was all about stopping McCain-Palin for me. That was just a scary prospect. I can rest a bit easier now 🙂
So true about the money thing…..I guess that is why that fundraisers are some of the highest paid people in campaigns. It is sad that it comes down to money. There is a saying, “the best qualified person is never in the contest.”
Will Palin become the new Quayle or will she appoint herself as senator when Stevens gets thrown out?