Tomorrow Is Election Day

Appearantly, spell check isn't working, apologies for any mistakes that follow.

So after all the hubbub it's finally here...election day. I love election day. I like the experience of casting my vote and doing my part. I like watching the exit polls all afternoon and the coverage all night long. The drama, the spin and the last minute arguments, all of it.


Having said that, here are my thoughts on the current election. As I've stated before, I'm not 100% behind my party's candidate, Senator Barack Obama. I have come around for the most part, but there are still a few things that bug me. The man is very eloquent and quick on his feet, but I often think he's not saying much when he talks...he just says nothing much better than most. Still, I try not to believe more than 75% of anything that comes out of a politician's mouth so I guess that evens out.

Also, I'm not sure he's got it right on education. In the commercials, Obama says that parents need to be more involved, and he's right. Trouble is, that's almost impossible to enforce. As a result, the focus (from both parties) seems to be on punishing teachers for the poor performance of students. That's kind of like blaming the farmer because there was no rain and the crops failed. The difference is that the government will bail out the farmer, and they want to fire teachers. Sound ridiculous yet? The other solution is to take money away from under performing schools, which is like taking away the farmer's tools. So the money that is available goes to schools that already have money and are doing well. This makes no sense. The policy makers need to focus more on the students themselves, and standardized testing doesn't cut it. Not all kids are going to respond in the same way, so it's flawed from the ground up. I'm not claiming to have the answers, but at least I understand the problem.

Fortunately, this is all I can really find to disagree with Obama on. Unlike Senator John McCain.

Talk about not understanding the problem. This man is going to perpetuate the same financial policies that have led us into a recession/depression. As with every Republican tax plan I can remember, the rich stay rich, the poor stay poor, the middle class goes nowhere. Smaller government and conservative fiscal policies have led us to where we are today. Thanks guys.

John McShame(sorry, that was cheap, and too easy) is also going to extend this ill-advised, poorly executed and compleltely senseless war we've got going on. Almost forgot about that, didn't you? Not only does he want to extend our stay in Iraq, but he's made it very clear that he will not hesitate to go into other countries as well. Now, I mean no disrespect by this, but can someone please explain to me why a prisoner of war would want to keep going to war? I realize that I have no room to talk here, as I can't possibly relate to his experiences, but I just can't fathom it. Yes, I appreciate his service and acknowledge the man as a hero, but it doesn't make him right.

The other problem with the Republican ticket is Sarah Palin. She's funny in small doses, and God help me, even likeable sometimes. She's also completely in over her head. I mean, the woman just looks like a deer in headlights most of the time. Also, she's kinda nuts. This is not the person I want to take over in case McCain doesn't complete his term. Before you start, it's not because she's a woman. I think a woman in power would be great, as President or V.P. Just not this one. I mean, gosh, if you think America's become a laughing stock under George W. Bush, well, boy howdy wait till ya see what happens if she gets in. We'll be up the creek without a canoe then, sure, you betcha. Okay, that was cheap and too easy as well, but I'm not sorry.

So there's where I stand. You can agree with me or not, I don't really care. See, that's the great thing (well, one of them anyway) about this country. We have the right to disagree. Each individual has the right to their own opinion. We can discuss, debate, and persuade all we want to but no-one has the right to take your opinion from you or tell you what to think. That, my friends, is worth preserving. And the way to do that is to be a part of the process, and vote.

Be sure to go to the polls tomorrow, no matter which side you're on. I'm Dave Brink, and I've approved this blog.