Ok, this will be my last political post for today but I really need some help.
Jess and I were talking this evening about the challenges of voting. The reality of our system is you get to vote for one of two parties/people for President. I’m not a math wiz but I can almost guarantee that with those odds neither candidate is going to line up with all of your personal beliefs/ideology on how the country should be run. So most people vote along party lines not really caring too much about the issues save for the ‘hot button’ ones like abortion, the environment, taxes, war, etc. Even within those issues you can usually pick one that is important/divisive enough that you would never vote for the other guy.
So the quandry.
Do I vote for the guy that is closest to having the qualifications to be President and closest to holding the same beliefs as myself? If I were looking for someone to fill a position in my company would I hire in this manner?
Do I look at lesser known candidates in hopes that I can find one that matches up with my beliefs more closely and essentially cast a symbolic vote for them, if such a candidate exists? I did this once in the Governor recall in California and actually felt pretty good about myself.
Do I refrain from voting so as not to sell out and vote for someone I’m not that thrilled about? You know, instead of casting a lesser of two evils kind of vote. According to some people I would then have no right to complain about our President.
I’m sure at least one of you has felt like this so I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. How do I vote? Do I vote?
Well I think you must vote on character and you should vote no matter. It is true noone will ever match up with everything we believe, usually not even spouses. I go for national issues. I really think the abortion issue should not be brought into the vote, this should remain at the state level. CHaracter, compassion, honor. After they have all been in office awhile it seems to all fall away and the issues you thought would happen don’t. The country is 50/50 in this years election and so it goes with family and friends. You have to make your evaluation by something and hopefully we alone are not the judges. We need to look at biblical advice and let God be our guide not our own selfishness.
Comment by debra — September 23, 2008 @ 11:39 am
Seriously let me know what you decide. I feel the same way.
Comment by Jen — September 23, 2008 @ 7:02 pm
Deb,
I agree that character is an important factor in picking a candidate and the values of the candidate are a reflection of their character. Regardless of whether or not the abortion issue should be a national or state decision that issue (among many others) still reflects the values and worldview of a candidate. So I am looking at the candidates character as reflected by their values and decisions but I’m still not sure who to vote for because I find some of that character greatly lacking. I’m still processing this out and I don’t take my vote lightly.
Comment by foosh — September 24, 2008 @ 11:37 am
Foosh, You are absolutely right. Touch decisions and I also do not take my vote lightly. Working with alot of Obama supporters definitely lets me see that side. So….
Comment by debra — September 24, 2008 @ 11:55 am