A citizen's opinion concering this election...

[JHill]

I want to say first that I am thankful that there is currently a place like this to express interest, engage in dialogue, and view a multitude of perspectives.

With that said--I have within me this undeniable and very strong concern for this election. I am 30yrs old and have only two (2) previous presidential elections that I expressed any political interest in. I now have a family: loving wife(my greatest gift) and two children w/ one on the way. My life revolves around loving my God, caring for my family, and serving my local church.

This year, I feel that I have been priviledged to be able to try and be better informed in this political season. I have opened myself up to many views and listened to many voices. I also feel that it is wise to try and discern those many views and voices in light of what is for me THE most important truth--the Holy Bible. Other very important documents have influence in this discernment, i.e. the COTUS, the BOR, and other founding documents.

In previous elections I have felt a sense of lacking concerning the 'menu' of issues certain presidential candidates. This one has held that same hollowness. In my search for a candidate that I can feel comfortable casting my vote for I have been feeling a sense of urgency--that is until last night.

For several weeks I have heard about this gentlemen and his 'ticket', but never took the time to invest in reading his issues. I did that and am now comfortable in casting my vote.

I would like to introduce Michael Peroutka of the Constitution Party.

Now, before you express your opinion on my 'wasting' my vote--allow me to qualify my choice.

* I am resolved to not vote the 'lesser of two evils'. I am convinced that this is still voting evil.

* I am resolved that if I don't have to vote one or two issues I will not.

I DO actually agree that if you are voting for Bush it is a way to actually vote AGAINST Kerry.

With that said, "God * Family * Republic"

Peroutka's site

Thanks.

 

[Cactus]

You seem to have your priorities right in loving your God and caring for your family.

However, to meet your obligations to God and your family, you sometimes have to make difficult choices, choices that you may not always wish to make. You will need to make your choice on what candidate will best protect your family and honor your faith. No matter how much you agree with Michael Peroutka, voting for him will only affect your family and faith negatively. He will not win! Either President Bush or John Kerry will win.

On issues of faith, there is a huge difference between President Bush and Kerry. President Bush pushed for, and signed, the ban on partial birth abortion. John Kerry, although he says that life begins at conception, voted against the ban and has voted against every restriction on abortion that has come before him. Kerry has stated that he will only appoint judges that are pro abortion.

President Bush is a strong supporter of the idea that marriage is between one man and one woman. John Kerry voted against the Clinton law allowing the states to restrict marriage to between a man and a woman.

John Kerry has always supported every gun control bill he possible could. If Kerry had his way, most guns would be worthless, as he wants to outlaw the sale of all centerfire ammunition used in hunting and defense. President Bush, while not perfect, has been a pretty good friend of gun owners.

John Kerry wants to treat the terrorists (that want to kill your family) as a nuisance to be dealt with as a law enforcement issue primarily. President Bush's position on battling the terrorists is obvious.

As a family man, you have to make many choices between "two evils". You get your children vacinated against desease even though the shots are painful for your child. You sometimes spank your child even though it causes them pain. But you do these "evil" things because of the greater "evil" that they protect against.

It is selfish to vote for a candidate that makes YOU feel better knowing he has zero chance of winning and when that vote could possible cause harm to your family, faith and nation. As a family man with a God given responsiblity for the protection of your family, you have an obligation to vote for the candidate that will do best by your family, God and country.

 

[trapshooter]

No vote is 'wasted', in the sense that by voting at all, you excercise the franchise that many on this planet are not lucky enough to have.

On the other hand, voting for a candidate who has absolutely zero chance of winning seems to lower the value of that franchise. And when your vote for your choice weakens the position of the next best alternative, who does have the potential to win, it seems that idealistic motives have a true cost in the real world. Pragmatically, I made a choice when I voted. Yes, I have already done so. It wasn't a tough choice, for me, at all. I did do a symbolic write in in a race where the 'next best' candidate was unopposed, out of a perverse notion of loyalty to someone who supported my beliefs when it wasn't looking too PC. (My guy lost a poorly contested primary). I also voted to boot all the incumbents in the judiciary, just because it might send a message that I think needs sending.

In the end, while I think it matters who wins, it is important for you to vote your beliefs. If the guys I voted for can't say the things you want to hear, then they have missed the mark in your case, and we'll all have to suffer the consequences of that miss. We'll know if less than two weeks, in any case. I hope.

 

[magooch]

When I was young and idealistic, I too voted for a person whom I agreed with on many of the issues of the time, knowing that he had little or no chance of actually winning. I thought my vote would help send a message to the "powers that be" about how the people really felt. If that vote sent any message, I'm sure nobody noticed and it changed nothing.

In the decades that have passed since that essentially meaningless vote, I have become pragmatic to the nth degree. In the real world there is never going to be a politician that I will agree with on half the issues--let alone all the issues. In this time, we are faced with the reality that either a Republican or a Democrat is going to be elected President and sometimes, one party or the other is going to shape our future. There is no argument that the Democrats are now socialists--pure and simple. Therefore, unless you want to go down that muddy road, you had better vote Republican and hope they can resist the drift toward socialism that is rife in this country.

 

[K80Geoff]

This election is not just a vote for Republican or Democrat. It is a referendum at to which direction this great country will pursue. Will we become a part of the euro-UN-nanny state crowd that will destroy the constitution and turn us into a third world country. Or will we continue down the difficult and rocky path our founders set us on over two centuries ago as the last hope for freedom.

It ain't about Bush vs Kerry anymore, it is about the survival of our great nation.

I personally despise Bush, but Kerry is an abomination and I will vote to keep him out of power.

Now if I lived still in New York where my vote was worthless, I too would vote for someone like Peroutka.

But here in Pennsylvania my vote means something and may keep Kerry out of office.