I have a love-hate relationship with election season. I love watching it unfold, but I hate the tv ads. I love deciding who to vote for, but I hate the media for trying to influence me (and you know they do!). I have to teach about it, on top of everything else, so I try not to get too involved early on.
I am very apathetic this year, yet at the same time excited to participate in such an election. For the first time in my life, I am truly torn about who to vote for (yes, Dad, I admit it! Don't shun me!). I have noticed that having kids has changed my views on a lot of issues, and not all in one way. For example, we here in MI will be voting about stem cell research on human embryos. I used to support it, until I had Charlie. Now I am against it. For education, I lean left. For foreign policy, I lean right. For "family values" I used to lean right, now I'm kind of in the middle depending on the specifics. Regarding the environment, I go left. Regarding health care, I go right. When it comes to the economy, I again am right in the middle.
Why does there have to be two major political parties? Why can't people see past the donkey or the elephant and just look at the people? George Washington, in his farewell address, warned against political parties: ..."It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one....against another....it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."
I think the entire problem with this country, why we can't get anything done, why we continue to be divided, is because we allow ourselves to be divided. We identify as a DEMOCRAT or REPUBLICAN and almost blindly support everything they stand for. If it's not Hillary, it's Obama! Because the 2 very different people are from the same party? And the way they are trying to link McCain to Bush is crazy. Didn't anyone pay attention to McCain when he ran in 2000? He couldn't get the full support of the Republicans because he stepped outside their box too many times and voted against something the "party" supported. And all the sudden he's going to continue Bush's policies?
I want to hope, like Obama tells me to. But I don't want to become a socialist state. I want security, which McCain will provide; but I think some flat out honesty with the American people would help (hey, we screwed up, but we can't get out now!). Michigan especially needs economic help, & from what I can research Obama will help immediately, but I think McCain will help in the long-term. So I just don't know. But I know they've devolved into strictly attack ads already, of which I am already sick.
Anyway. Three things bring me peace - Doug, & the two adorable boys below. Charlie can sit up unsupported now! And I bet you can't tell it's Roman, seeing as he's in disguise.
I am very apathetic this year, yet at the same time excited to participate in such an election. For the first time in my life, I am truly torn about who to vote for (yes, Dad, I admit it! Don't shun me!). I have noticed that having kids has changed my views on a lot of issues, and not all in one way. For example, we here in MI will be voting about stem cell research on human embryos. I used to support it, until I had Charlie. Now I am against it. For education, I lean left. For foreign policy, I lean right. For "family values" I used to lean right, now I'm kind of in the middle depending on the specifics. Regarding the environment, I go left. Regarding health care, I go right. When it comes to the economy, I again am right in the middle.
Why does there have to be two major political parties? Why can't people see past the donkey or the elephant and just look at the people? George Washington, in his farewell address, warned against political parties: ..."It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one....against another....it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."
I think the entire problem with this country, why we can't get anything done, why we continue to be divided, is because we allow ourselves to be divided. We identify as a DEMOCRAT or REPUBLICAN and almost blindly support everything they stand for. If it's not Hillary, it's Obama! Because the 2 very different people are from the same party? And the way they are trying to link McCain to Bush is crazy. Didn't anyone pay attention to McCain when he ran in 2000? He couldn't get the full support of the Republicans because he stepped outside their box too many times and voted against something the "party" supported. And all the sudden he's going to continue Bush's policies?
I want to hope, like Obama tells me to. But I don't want to become a socialist state. I want security, which McCain will provide; but I think some flat out honesty with the American people would help (hey, we screwed up, but we can't get out now!). Michigan especially needs economic help, & from what I can research Obama will help immediately, but I think McCain will help in the long-term. So I just don't know. But I know they've devolved into strictly attack ads already, of which I am already sick.
Anyway. Three things bring me peace - Doug, & the two adorable boys below. Charlie can sit up unsupported now! And I bet you can't tell it's Roman, seeing as he's in disguise.
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