I tend to have pretty strong feelings about politics. However, I also have pretty strong feelings about people's right to their opinion & freedom to express it.
What discourages me most, however, is when opinion is so heavily shaped by something other than reasoning & discernment. I fear that we have become a nation more influenced by "American Idol", daytime television and smooth talk than by foundational (ideally non-controversial) values like accountability, responsibility, generosity & freedom. We boil consideration of difficult issues down to 5 second soundbites... we blame all of our difficulties on convenient targets like "wall street ceo's"... we are always looking for the easy way out and someone else to blame; to make people either "good" or "bad" when we are all a mixture of both. It is no wonder that a widely promoted media message of "we will take care of you" rings so loudly.
I am a registered independent. I believe in the politics (and life) of personal accountability. My family gives generously of our time & money to our church, our community and other charities. I believe that the sanctity of human life is more important than the ethical treatment of animals. I was born to a lower-middle class, broken family and financed my own education over a 10 year repayment period. I live frugally; within my means; no car less than 7 years old; no credit card debt. I invest as much as possible for my families future. I have been a small business employer for the last 10 years of my life and know the pressure and responsibility of helping someone else feed their family; and of letting people go in the wake of financial turmoil after the collapse of Enron and the tragedy of 911. I am Caucasian, raised in a state (AK) where racism is not even understood, but have have been often accused of being racist, sexist or any number of things because of my gender and the color of my skin. I value truthfulness; even when it hurts. I was raised to "take my lumps" when I mess up and learn from them, not to rationalize or shift blame. I believe that the folks I hang out with influence my reasoning... and so while I know a lot of people, I choose who I fellowship with. I care who my kids hang out with. I care that my son behaves not to avoid losing his X-Box time... but because he is learning to reason and make good choices; that he is learning wisdom & discernment and his heart and mind are growing.
However you vote... I hope you do so with a lot of factual information; that your vote comes from a place of reasoned analysis, rather than hyperbole; that hope, which should inspire us, does not replace wisdom & discernment which should guide us. I hope you are willing to commit to the personal work of improving our country... because if we simply vote, without working and changing our own behavior, then we continue to add to the problems we expect others to solve for us. No candidate running for office and no form of government can bring about the "change" people seem to be saying they want... I question whether if we, as a nation, would really want all these things if we truly understood their cost?
I am off to the polls to vote. And this afternoon and tomorrow... and the next day... I will be back to working hard, employing others, giving generously (without being taxed to do so). My concern is whether there will be others joining me in the hard work of paying off our debt, managing our spending and raising our children with a sense of responsibility, rather than entitlement.
God Bless America... and your right to vote.
Cheers.