I’ve looked at all the issues and weighed the pros and cons. I’ve waded through the Presidential debate and conflicting views of candidates running for other offices. I’ve used my brain, my heart, my gut, and my common sense. Now I know how I’ll vote.
I’m going to vote to preserve America’s soul, conscience, and well-being.
I’m not going to tell you WHO or WHAT to vote for, but I am giving you some advice to ensure that your vote will truly make a difference.
I’ve noticed the all-or-nothing attitude of people around me and people in general. That is, vote totally one party or another because they’re conservative/liberal/not socialist/progressive/whatever. Or vote for one candidate because they’re anti-abortion or pro gun control or some other single issue.
One problem is that no party is fully conservative/liberal/whatever. In the olden days they were more unified in a political direction. Today, though, both major parties have several wings.
Which brings me to the other problem. Voting straight party ticket does not guarantee that your main view will be pushed. Sometimes, for example, a representative will be against your view on civil rights and someone from the other party would have been more in line with your view. Or the candidate who is stanchly for that one view may go against your other important issues.
The best way to vote, then, is to figure out what you think would make this overall a safer, happier, more just country, then evaluate each candidate’s previous actions and stated goals, and vote accordingly, no matter what party they belong to. And examine your own moral stance not just over one issue but all that affect the common good.
In short, vote to strengthen the basic American values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Every discussion or argument about climate change pretty much revolves around the same issues. The Climate Reality Project boils it down to a dozen questions most often asked by people who don’t believe that climate change is here. Don’t be put off by the title; just go there and see if you’ve heard (or asked) any and see what the answers are.
Go to “The 12 Questions Every Climate Activist Hears and What to Say.” Personally, I’m a “believer,” and I still learned a lot from this article.
I watched the whole Democratic debate! I wasn’t able to get through any more than an hour of the Republican debate. What was the difference for me? With the Republicans, I lost patience with rudeness, name-calling, ethnic/sexist comments, and basic back-alley fghting. I was learning the candidates’ personalities but not their stands, plans, and views (except, of course, that all democrats–especially Hillary Clinton–are unintelligent, evil demons).
The Democrats were far different. They showed respect for one another, even when they had a direct-confrontation disagreement. They attempted to stay on-topic most of the time. They showed a friendly rivalry. Actually, to me, they seemed like people who wanted to win us over with what they felt are their strengths, not entertain us with an episode of “Political Tuesday-Night Fights.”
The elections are far enough away to allow time to win the minds and hearts of voters. But unless the Republican candidates stop acting like spoiled, unruly children, this voter won’t bother trying to listen to them any longer.
Even The Donald is no longer entertaining.