Is it just me or is this election year even more pivotal than normal? We have an important choice to make here, and I know where I stand, but it seems this year the emotions are so much higher than they have been in previous years. Although I have to admit that my brother refused to talk to me for months after I voted for the "wrong" candidate one year. In hindsight I don't think I made the right decision voting for Bush that year either, and it is a decision I have regretted ever since, but at the time I thought I was making an educated choice. I realize now that I fell for the emotionally loaded political propaganda of the time, not really checking the facts in the voting record. (Well that and I couldn't stand Tipper even though I loved Al's stance on the environment and women's rights.)
My family is pretty staunchly Democrat. I remember a conversation with my grandmother after we went and voted together one year. She didn't understand why it had taken me so long to cast my votes, after all you were just supposed to vote straight ticket Democrat! I, on the other hand, carefully considered each of my votes for each candidate throughout our district, voting for a majority of Democrats, but also selecting a few Republicans who I thought made more sense.
I realize now that family traditions are almost always more important to people's decisions to vote than the issues themselves are, and I feel this has become a dangerous precedent as people fail to take into consideration the fact that the parties themselves are not static entities. Their platforms evolve over time to make them more desireable to certain segments of the population or to adapt to pressures from their major campaign contributors.
I can't begin to claim I am an expert in politics, but I do know one thing. When people vote their choice is based more on emotional attachments to certain ideas and ideals and less on the actual candidate's record. And guess what, both parties are counting on this fact. This year, I am begging each of you to truly consider who and what you are voting for. Our world is in turmoil, every action we take is under severe scrutiny by a world community that is increasingly volatile and hostile. Please don't vote a certain way just because that is the way your family has always voted, and please don't vote simply in reaction to the dissatisfaction you may feel at this moment in time. Your decision this year will have lasting and long term effects not just for you and your family, but for our entire country and the world.
In case you are wondering, I am NOT voting for Romney, but I am also not voting straight Democratic ticket either. Let's elect a governing body that can work TOGETHER to create positive change.
My family is pretty staunchly Democrat. I remember a conversation with my grandmother after we went and voted together one year. She didn't understand why it had taken me so long to cast my votes, after all you were just supposed to vote straight ticket Democrat! I, on the other hand, carefully considered each of my votes for each candidate throughout our district, voting for a majority of Democrats, but also selecting a few Republicans who I thought made more sense.
I realize now that family traditions are almost always more important to people's decisions to vote than the issues themselves are, and I feel this has become a dangerous precedent as people fail to take into consideration the fact that the parties themselves are not static entities. Their platforms evolve over time to make them more desireable to certain segments of the population or to adapt to pressures from their major campaign contributors.
I can't begin to claim I am an expert in politics, but I do know one thing. When people vote their choice is based more on emotional attachments to certain ideas and ideals and less on the actual candidate's record. And guess what, both parties are counting on this fact. This year, I am begging each of you to truly consider who and what you are voting for. Our world is in turmoil, every action we take is under severe scrutiny by a world community that is increasingly volatile and hostile. Please don't vote a certain way just because that is the way your family has always voted, and please don't vote simply in reaction to the dissatisfaction you may feel at this moment in time. Your decision this year will have lasting and long term effects not just for you and your family, but for our entire country and the world.
In case you are wondering, I am NOT voting for Romney, but I am also not voting straight Democratic ticket either. Let's elect a governing body that can work TOGETHER to create positive change.
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The CookieMomster