Our America, Our Votes, Our Leaders

Dear Neighbors:


In the past, I've kept up with political issues enough to be informed, but not enough to truly understand what's going on in the United States. Please don't stop reading just because this is a politically-themed blog. I promise it will be worth your time. You might even be able to relate to what I'm about to discuss. I'm concerned about where this country is headed. I truly believe that each and every one of us can make a difference if we get involved. With that said, I've found politics to be confusing, frustrating, and corrupt. It's impossible to comprehend how the people we choose to represent our interests only represent their own -- or that of the political party to which they've committed themselves. If a politician attempts to represent the interests of The People, he or she can expect to start job hunting.


We are none of us perfect, or even close to it. We use our free will to make decisions, and those decisions aren't always easy. We learn from our mistakes and try our best not to make them again. When our friends and family remind us of these errors in judgment, it's not only offensive but cruel. Think about, for example, a twenty year-old who becomes addicted to drugs and steals to support the habit. He or she gets arrested, serves time, gets clean -- and now has a record that will always be an impediment to pursuing a career. He or she will have to include it on every job application, and the employer has the right to deny employment based on this history.


The same concept applies to politics. As soon as a candidate declares an intention to run for office, the mudslinging begins. Some of it, of course, is warranted. It's important to know the candidate's voting history, who is funding his or her campaign, and any personal beliefs that he or she might want to adopt as policy. Do we really need to know that the candidate had a nasty divorce, a personal bankruptcy, a rather colorful mid-life crisis, or an adulterous affair? And if so, how does this make those politicians any different than the average American?

Look at the following chart and decide for yourself if Bill Clinton's personal and political baggage was a significant obstacle in his presidency: A Financial View Of The Clinton Administration
We hold politicians to higher standards than we hold ourselves, even though we ask them to represent us and our interests. Read the following on political mudslinging:


Mudslinging -- Not A New Idea


The act of mudslinging is just a way to distract voters from considering the most important questions, such as:

• Is this candidate working for The People, or the party?
• Why is he or she running for office?
• How will his or her election benefit everyone?
• Does this candidate understand what it means to be an average American?

In short, mudslinging is just a tactic to distract you from the important issues. Don't fall for it -- prove that you can think critically. Wipe the mud away from your eyes and seek out legitimate information about your candidate's voting record, donation sources and where he or she stands on the issues YOU care about. It is about you, after all. It's about me, and it's about us.


Where the money comes from and where it goes


How your Congressional representative is representing YOU


What your Senators are doing for YOUR state


The issues -- where does your candidate stand?




Many of us were disappointed when George W. Bush won the 2000 election. The controversy surrounding the election was the most intense in election history, and many flaws in our election system were found. Glance through the following article, which gives an overview of that election:


Did WE elect Bush?


The most significant statement from that article is this: "Calls for some sort of national standards for balloting, to set residency requirements, and to set methods of vote tabulation and how to determine when a recount should be done and when a hand recount should be done. Everyone agreed that there were flaws in the system, flaws which may not be fixable, and flaws which usually had a negligible effect on the outcome of any one election, let alone a national election. How to make changes is another story."


You bet it's another story. It's a story that hasn't yet been written. Very little, if any, changes have been made to existing election laws. The events of 9/11 distracted us, understandably so, from focusing on the previous year's election. Since then, we haven't asked ourselves if and how election laws should be changed. We haven't even standardized balloting!

This is how I vote.

This is how I used to vote.

I don't get this "chad" business at all.

Just because we've been electing presidents the same way for a long time doesn't mean we have to continue on the same path. The Constitution is a living document; it is subject to change. Where should we start?


Glad we have another year,


D