Vote it is not just a right but a responsibility.
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Vote it is not just a right but a responsibility.
I Disagree with congressional republicans on many issues and the 109th congress has been in my opinion, one of the most disappointing legislative bodies in American history. Especially when you consider the possibilities on what they could have accomplished and compare that with what they actually did accomplish. Yet on the issues I disagree with Incumbent Republicans on, the Democrats postion is generally far worse.
Take Immigration for example. Many Republicans are pushing for a "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill". The problem is that those comprehensive bills generally include some form of Amnesty for millions of people who came here illegally. So if we throw out the incumbents because they advocate a position on immigration reform that in my opinion is disastrous, what will be the final outcome? A far worse "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill". One that not only includes amnesty for illegal aliens, but also curtails law enforcements ability to deport, increased government assistance for illegals, and with the added incentives far more crossing the borders illegally.
Other Issues in which I am disappointed in the Republican congress is the uncontrolled pork barrel spending. Just last week the President signed into law long overdue legislation designed to curtail the pork, but it took massive public pressure led by bloggers like Porkbusters to get the legislation passed and overcome those attempting to block it. Who though could honestly expect a Democratic congress to be more frugal with tax dollars. The Democrats governing philosophy is that a bigger government is the solution to most of socities problems.. Conservatives view bigger government as the problem or at least a substanitial part of the problem and in many cases an infringement of our individual liberties. It is a fact that no society throughout history has ever obtained a high level of economic affluence without a government. It is also a fact, however, that where governments have too much control over the utilization of resources and other economic decisions, societies have not been successful in attaining high levels of economic affluence. The experience of the old Soviet Union is revealing, as was the comparison of East and West Germany during the Cold War era, or of North and South Korea today. Too much government stifles the spirit of enterprise and lowers the rate of economic growth and overall economic prosperity. Government solutions to problems often create more problems than are solved.
The 109th Congress has been disappointing in curtailing the growth of government, yet what could we expect with a Democratic Congress? Expanded government social programs, increased government intrusion into individual liberties and responsibilities, higher taxes and reduced economic growth, and more unemployment. Is this the Chang of Direction America wants or needs? Absolutely not.
The Foley/Page scandal stands a good chance of handing Nancy Pelosi the title of Speaker of the House. Not because the Democratic Party position on issues is better for America, nor because the majority of voters have suddenly become liberal, but because Conservatives already disenchanted with the failures of this Republican Congress may decide to stay at home on election day. Following the 2004 election Republicans had a chance to do tremendous good for this country, and did accomplish many things. But is what they failed to accomplish that could derail Republican control of the House and perhaps even the Senate this Fall. I for one however will not be sitting at home on Election Day.
Vote it is not just a right but a responsibility.
I’m also a firm believer that voting is something which an informed populace is not only able to do, but is almost required to do. However, I also believe that the uninformed are almost duty-bound not to cast a ballot in an election, as not only is their doing so a slap in the face of the informed voter who has put so much work into preparing to vote, but it also all-but-negates the casting of an informed ballot by balancing it out with an uninformed one.
In this election, I think, as always, it’s a matter of looking at the facts — ALL the facts – on each possible candidate, and voting with rationality and conscience. Don’t let the partisanship and divisiveness on either side weigh too heavily on you; simply decide, as you have done countless times before, which candidate best represents you, which would perform best in the job, which would be a better long-term officeholder, or which meets whatever other criteria to which you may wish to hold your selected representative, and cast your informed ballot for that man or woman.
While you cannot control any individual but yourself, you have all the power in the world to select that person which best represents you, and to push them one vote closer to office. In this nation/state/district/county of one man-one vote, that’s the greatest power you hold every two or four years. Don’t ignore it, don’t take it for granted…and always, always, always use it well.
Idealistic? Sure. Sue me. 
Let's look at what this Congress is doing. This is just a list from last week. Please check out the full entry
Just as every cop is a criminal, and all the sinners saints - Sympathy for the Democrats