In a nutshell...I am a stay-at-home mom of 5 young children. I am married to my best friend of 11 years. My husband is a student, finishing up his graduate degree in pharmacy. Education is very important to both of us. I have returned to school, after a short 10 year break, to finish my degree in History and to continue on to my Masters in Library Science. I love books! In the free time I do have, I like to read read read. I like to think deeply about things, you know...ponder them, analyze them, dissect them...to the point that it drives me crazy! I used to be very interested in politics in high school, but since my children were born, I haven't had much time to be involved.
Why am I here?... My dilemma is this...free time is obviously NOT on my side. I'd don't have time to research this election and yet, I have a great desire to be informed! So why don't I just pick up a newspaper, you may ask? Honestly, I have tried. I do know the basics, but I want to know more. And where can I go to get information that isn't biased? Is that even possible? That is why I am here, asking you...my friends, family, and the American people in general...for your opinion. I trust you more than I trust the media. What do you think about this election? Where do you stand? Who do you like..or hate..and why? What issues are most important to you?
Is it worth it?...You bet! Not only is this going to be great for me to learn from all of your opinions, but it's going to be great for everyone of you to learn from everyone else! It's what we need as a nation, right? People, discussing, enlightening each other...I never learn more than from listening to the experiences of others. I need your input. Our county's president is going to be chosen very soon...not by the media, not by the current president, not by anyone but you. Please let me glean off of your thoughts and impressions. And if you don't know much about political issues these days, please come and learn along with me. Let's dissect the issues together until we figure it out for ourselves. Thank you in advance to anyone who is willing to help me in my quest...
From,
an under-informed, but hopeful, mother of future voters...
9 comments:
Although I'm not openly identified, you know me pretty well and you know my wife even better. Great idea to get some info from people who share much in common with you. This may not be the best idea, but it is the one I initially decided upon when doing my own research: find a website with a fairly complete questionaire asking how I felt about each issue. At the time, I wasn't even informed enough to have an opinion on some issues, but generally speaking, I painted a fairly accurate picture of my politial views and values. The site matched me with the candidate who most represented me. There was a breakdown on each issue of where I agreed or disagreed with each candidate. There were also links to educate myself on each issue. This was a good jumping off point for me to research issues and decide who should lead the country. Since our viable options for this election are few, there should be a clearly emerging winner if you decide to follow the website idea. By the way, the end result was a decision to vote for the person who isn't Obama... he came in tied for LAST place with Hillary Clinton. It should be noted that those were the results from the very earliest primary races when all candidates were still in the race... LAST PLACE! McCain is closer to my values and political views, even if he doesn't reflect them that well. Not my favorite election to vote in. Good luck with your decision.
Excellent advice, my "anonymous" friend! ;) Could you share the name of the website you used? It sounds very helpful.
I too, don't have much time to research all of the political debates. I do know that it is important for me to vote though. I am glad I have a husband who is up on that kind of stuff. We sit and talk about all the topic before we vote. I also think McCain is closer to my values. I am excited to vote for a new president. Hopefully we will have a few changes for the positive. Good luck
To be honest, I'm not even registered to vote. For the most part, I could realy care less whether it's Mccain or Obama. I'm not saying this to be rebellious, it's just the way I am.
I know that's sad, but for the most part, I think they both sound like they'd do a good job.
I thought about going to a couple of websites to make some solid intellectual points one way or the other, but that's not my style.
I think it's cool that you're getting so involved. Personally, it's just not that big of a thing to me. I know that was probably not the answer you wanted/expected, but...
Love ya,
i just know when i watched the speech given by Obama at the convention that i kinda bumbled into because i have run screaming from anything smacking of politics lately, i got tears in my eyes. and i felt like we might have a reason to hope again. i also know that the damage bush has done to our country will not be undone by someone that is really a lot like bush! my feeling is, do you like the way things are? if you do, vote mccain. if not, vote for obama. and...i think that stuff about lipstick on a pig is absolutely ridiculous! i have heard that saying many times and it means: "you can't polish a turd". i know i am ready for change.
Here are a few of my thoughts. I almost enjoyed listening to Obama's speach the other week. He is a great public speaker. I also think that he's probably a pretty decent guy in many ways. But when it comes down to his ideas on government, I just can't agree. I believe he WILL be a president of "change" but change in and of itself is not necessarily what's best. That "change" must take us in the right direction and I don't like the "changes" he wants to make. Obama believes in having a big government that takes care of everyone and everything. He wants government to control too much. I just don't feel the same. I don't want a government that runs everything for me and the rest of the country. I feel like government should allow us to be self reliant and stay out of our way as much as possible. There are many things government should do- have a strong military, build infrastructure etc.- but making us all pay for everyone's childcare, early childhood education, healthcare, etc through our taxes is too much. I also don't identify with him due to our differences in some moral issues such as abortion. I know that he can actually have little affect on that issue, but it's just another thing that distances me from his idealogies. As for Senator Biden, I have never liked him...
Now, the McCain/Palin ticket. I like McCain because his feelings on government are more similar to mine. I also feel like he does what he does for more the right reasons- because he thinks it's right and not just to further his political career. That's just a character trait that endears me more to him. Many republicans do not like McCain because he is not conservative enough. He works too much in the center of the aisle I guess. But why is that a bad thing? Isn't that what we always say is wrong with Washington? I think he'll reach across the aisle on issues that he can, yet still stay closer to the republican ideals. As for Governor Palin, I like her! She's a regular person who has made her way on her own merits, not because she has connections or money or whatever. And I think she has plenty of experience for the vp position. If she needs to be updated on foreign policy or whatever she's lacking, I don't doubt that she can and will do it sufficiently. I guess I just identify more with her. I believe that's how many people end up voting- who do they identify with the most.
We, of course, all want America safe so whoever I think will be the one that is strongest in that area will have my vote. That's the foundation for all else in my eyes. All information gets warped and the truth (who's truth?) is easily distorted.(By the media that is). Thing is we really just don't have all the facts nor will we ever. How could we possibly. Everyone has heard or read everything through news and media, books and internet research. But are we actually in the "know' about the facts behind the speeches and broadcasts and books? Unless maybe, we work for the government in some capacity (and I'm sure that most of those working in the government don't even know entirely). I do know we have to try to sift out the truth/reality of every issue brought up, of course, but it just feels exhausting and overwhelming even as important as it is. In the end do I really know more, or just more of what someone else who is "supposed" to know says? Just want to focus on what the most important issue of all is, our safety, and try to sort through the truth/untruths of that.
A little note about the lipstick reference. I think that the way Palin brought in the reference of lipstick seemed like a way of trying to point a finger as if to say "Ooh, look what he said and what he may have meant," and its just childish. Of course Obama didn't mean that reference to be anything else then it was, what would be the point? Are we in middle school here or can we hear just basic points that are not biased with he said she said references. We are voting for presidents and vice presidents. What is more important to vote for then that? And honestly The vice president posibilities are both a little unnerving to me as well. As another side note I seriously hope that people don't add in points based on race or gender.Its easy to throw that in and be swayed a little but its so ignorant. (Funny, those who lean towards that way of thinking probably just cancel out those who would never cast a vote for someone due to their race/gender.) Its about sticking to the facts of what they will do and who they are, not gender or race. People need to just stick to the reality and the facts and not the emotional drama. Be calm and stay focused while deciding who to vote for.
fyi: check out this
website
http://womenagainstsarahpalin.org/
seems there are enough of us that think she is a heinous choice.
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