According to Rush Limbaugh, I must be crazy. He said (screamed) something like, Who are these lunatics who are undecided less than three weeks before the election? I've heard a similar rendition from the left. Well, let me explain it to them here instead of screaming at the radio/television.
I actually feel a great responsibility when voting. My grandfather always said, "I vote for the man, not the party." DIGRESSION ALERT: No, he didn't say "person" he said "man" because in 1972 women were just starting to burn their bras and think they might be as smart as men.
Back in the late 90s, I had one of those "aha moments" that Oprah talks about. A colleague said she felt pressured to vote, like it was UnAmerican not to, but she didn't really know who to vote for or much about the issues. As I delved deeper, it was apparent she didn't know anything about the issues. That's when I realized that some people actually just vote like they're picking a horse at the track. That's when I started championing "responsible voting" in my little circle of the world. If you're not going to take the time to digest information and be informed, please don't vote.
So, here's how my process works. I watch all of the debates. I listen to Limbaugh, Lash, some local right winger named Garrison, and NPR. I watch the "drive by media" as Limbaugh calls them...reporters on the network news. Most importantly, I read and research! For instance, Romney keeps talking about all the great things he did as Governor of Massachusetts. I will check the facts on that, but more importantly I will consider the SOURCE of the information. The source is key. I think it gets so complicated because there is just so damn much noise!
In the end, I will have devoted at least 40 hours to this process.
Here's the breakdown thus far inside my head.
Broad Societal Issues such as poverty, violence, public education, mental health and addiction, access to good medical care, about which I care deeply. I believe in the individual liberty but I also believe there is a balance between how well our society is doing as a whole. "There but for the grace of God, go I" and "We are only as strong as the weakest link." Our country works best when everyone is operating at their highest potential.
International Issues As our world grows smaller, we are all very entwined. It's complex yet simple at the same time. The bigger question to me is this: Do we believe our country has the responsibility as a "super power" to stick up for the weak who are being tortured by tyrants, to champion freedom and liberty, to promote democracy and relgious freedom, and to provide humanitarian aid to those less fortunate? Or do we believe that we need to tend to our own backyard and intervene only when our security and/or the security of our allies is at risk? On the one hand, isn't it our prime responsibility to take care of ourselves first? On the other hand, how can we morally sit back and do nothing when people are being tortured...especially people to whom we have given hope and watched them courageously stand up to dictators and/or religious zealots who want to quash their passion for freedom. If we let tyrants take over, doesn't that put our security at risk?
Tactically it's complicated. Strategically, it's simple: what do we see as our role in the world?
Ideological Issues I'm not sure that's the correct term, but these are things such as pro-choice/pro-life, separation of church and state, equal rights, environmentalism/energy policy, etc.
"It's the economy, stupid" The Clinton battle cry during his campaign to defeat incumbent George H.W. Bush during the 1992 election, actually is the core of each of three categories I listed previously. Our country has to be strong economically to help us deal efficiently and compassionately with the societel issues, such as poverty, violence, mental health and addiction, etc. In the 21st century, economic power equals national security (this is one issue where I concur with Ron Paul). Internationally, whether it's diplomatic relations, national security, or respect, it's about economic power. The country who is the most economically sound ultimately has the most security. That power can be used for good or for evil. Economic strength is less important to some of the ideological issues, but still matters in the sense that I believe a society has more freedom to discuss these issues in a rational way if they aren't worried about going bankrupt.
So, I will be busy the next few weeks. I am thankful each and every day that I was born in the land of the free!
