That is the question.
There are some candidates in this election that I feel I could get behind ideologically. But this year more than ever before, I am struggling to find candidates I can support. In the past, it seemed alright to vote “the lesser of two evils.” Not this year.
The stakes are higher this election. The tension is greater. The need to elect public servants who will be a thorn in the paw of our overbearing government has been nagging me like the tick-tocking of a clock in the dead of night.
But who will do the dirty work? Who will be who they say they are and stand for what they say they stand for? It’s hard to tell.
My personal peeve this election season has been the money spent on attack ads. Maybe I’m naive. Maybe politics really is “a dirty business.” Maybe television and radio commercials (and billboards and fliers in the mail every day for the last four weeks) are absolutely necessary in order to one-up an opponent. But it has left me dissatisfied with almost all of the names I will be seeing on the ballot today.
Can we really accept this? In the age of instant (and free) internet publicity, with the wildfires that are (or can be) twitter and facebook and blogging, can we honestly justify spending millions (or billions) of dollars on advertisements?
In this economy, I would have gladly thrown my support fully behind a candidate who utilized the great curse of the internet. I would have gladly cheered for those who not only preached what I thought we needed to hear, but also ran campaigns that reflected those ideas. I would have gladly–and wholeheartedly–cast my vote today for anyone whose values trumped their need to disparage an opponent.
That’s what I thought this election was about: breaking the political mold that we’ve cast in America; running on principles and ideas rather than “look at how filthy my opponent is.” And there may be one or two names on my ballot that fit this bill. But by and large, I am just as dissatisfied with this election as I was the last…
And the one before that…
And…
Yet, in honor of my freedom–and those who have spilled their lives and blood to secure and protect that freedom–I will decidedly cast my vote today. It is my duty…my responsibility…and my great honor as an American.
What about you? Are you off to the polls today?
barefooted semmie 
See my post today.
Dr. B
Good thoughts, Dr. B. Thanks for stopping in.
Amazingly, I always feel freer once I’ve cast my ballot. 🙂
I did vote today. I wasn’t entirely pleased with everyone on the ballot, but those were the names that I had to pick from. However there were a couple of names on the ballot that I actually did support. They were the ones that have and say they will continue to support kids and education. These same politicians have voiced their opinion in the past and things did change for the better. Maybe I am just all for education and children as I have kids in school and I want to make sure they get what they need and I want to make sure the Board of Education is doing their job as opposed to drinking and gambling on school funds. (A politician actually looked into this and found out some of the Board of Education members were supposed to be on a trip funded by the schools and were actually gambling, drinking, and doing other irresponsible things.)
To make a long story short, I voted and I hope that things will turn around.
Besides if you don’t vote, how can your voice be heard in a sense?
I’m so glad you voted!! Education is such an important issue in our country right now, and we certainly need individuals who have a passion for kids and education (as opposed to individuals with a passion for drink and game, as you said). That was also one of the big topics for me, even though I’m not a mother–I have family in education, as you know, and nieces and nephews and friends with kids in public schools. Most of them aren’t here locally, but just being involved in their lives has made me more aware of the local needs we have.
And you’re absolutely right: voting gives us a voice. I thank God for the opportunity, the freedom, and the desire to vote.
Love ya, girl!
Blah. I agree. Politics just seem to be getting nastier and nastier. However, I live in the great conservative state of Oklahoma now…where everyone claims to be a “family” man or woman, to have “conservative values”….regardless of whatever “partisan” group they are members of. Ugh. Is it just me or are Americans polarizing more and more every election? Part of my depressed attitude today (regarding politics in general) is due to the fact that I read Newsweek’s latest. Ugh again. I swear that magazine polarizes more to the far left everyday. Anyway…just thought I’d stop by to throwup on your blog. lol. Happy voting!!
Mimimus perispatus… “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” Rom 13:1
Me too Semmie. -Dr. B