please don't vote

I know, I know, I got the message wrong. Or did I?

Do you really think that every person in this country should vote? Even if they're not informed?

I saw a Dateline or 20/20 or something like that this past week that showed how uninformed people were. When shown pictures, even people who lived IN Washington, D.C. didn't know who Joe Biden was. Most didn't even know who Sarah Palin was! They obviously don't even watch SNL!

When asked at a rock concert (of some oldies band I can't remember who it was), a few of the audience didn't even know the correct NUMBER OF STATES IN THE US (one man said 52, another said 51...I guess they're close??)! 50, people! Oh wow. The most shocking of this portion was the women who didn't know what Roe vs. Wade is. Probably one of the biggest political issues of our time (even before my time) and one girl thought it had to do with segregation. As much as this issues makes me (again) question what schools are teaching (although I know teachers, bless their hearts, can teach & teach but some kids won't listen) BUT more so it makes me scared for these people to vote.

Do I want these uninformed citizens to help chose my next political leader? The next Commander-in-Chief? That makes me very scared because I have a feeling that these very people will vote according to these following facts:

1. Obama is young.
2. Obama is black.
3. Palin is a woman.
4. Palin is beautiful.
5. McCain is old (old = wise or old = old).
6. Obama is a Democrat.
7. McCain is a Rebuplican.

Personally, I'm not ashamed to say I am voting McCain/Palin. I have my own personal reasons for voting within my political party. I am very conservative in my views as is my husband.

At the beginning of the Obama/Clinton fights, I really thought I may vote for Obama because I was uninformed and thought his youth would change things. As the election has pressed on, I have become informed. I watched the debates (and the SNL skits). I have read about the politicians and watched the news concerning them.

I do think this is the dirtiest campaign in history but from both sides. I think the negativity was brought on in the very beginning between Obama and Clinton. It dragged down that primary, and it still is dragging down this election. I'm tired of the name-calling and hair-pulling and just plain elementary tactics. I don't think either nominee is above any of this, as they should be.

But I do know what I want for this country. You should too. So before you go to the polls, please inform yourself. Look at the president-elects, the vice president-elects, and the issues at hand. Are you pro-life or pro-choice? Are you for gun bans or the right to bear arms? What's your stand on Iraq? What kind of people do you want on the Supreme Court? How do you feel about our economy and the changes it needs? Are you eco-friendly? Do you want teachers to be paid more or to choose where you kids go to school via vouchers? Learn about these issues. Then decide.

Do NOT decide on age, race, gender, rumors, political parties. Do look at their pasts but take it wth a grain of salt. Do listen to the rumors but don't place all of your value in them. Be informed but don't be naive.

Do vote but learn before you do.