I don’t want to turn this blog into a political argument. I really, really don’t.
Some people can get so heated and nasty when arguing over politics and I don’t want to pollute this happy place with that behavior.
That being said, and in honor of my 100th blog post (woo hoo) and the importance of this (and every) election, I felt compelled to share this quote:
“I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney because of his economic policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree with him on gay rights. Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a level clear voice, and say, ‘My taxes and take-home pay mean more than your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very personhood.’
It’s like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights movements, and apologizing for his racism. You’re still complicit. You’re still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia. You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you ‘disagree’ with your candidate on these issues.”
-Doug Wright, Pulitzer winning playwright
I was undecided where my vote was going up until a few days ago. That might surprise a few people, but it’s true. Most people (I think) assume that I would automatically vote for Obama. That makes sense. I did last time and I totally get that assumption. The thing is, it’s just not as simple as it used to be, the decision that is.
Turns out i’ve wrestled with it a lot this time.
It’s not like when I was in college, an idealist with little to no responsibility. Things are a lot different now. I’m married to somebody whose business (and our livelihood) is greatly affected by things like tax laws and who is in office.
He and I are a family now and thus my responsibilities and priorities have changed dramatically. My priorities now involve things like having a healthy family, saving money, our financial future, investing, buying a house, sending our future kids to college, even retirement. Unfortunately a lot of it revolves around money, but that’s life.
I’ve started to truly understand how the way I vote doesn’t just affect the ‘greater good’ in an abstract sense, but it can and will affect mine and my families every day life directly.
Grown up life complicates things.
It’s just not as simple anymore.
You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you ‘disagree’ with your candidate on these issues.
Or is it?
That’s what the quote made me ask myself and you know what? It really is that simple. For me. This time.
I just can’t be complicit. Some maybe can and will, but I feel like I couldn’t look at myself the same way. I, and my priorities, have changed since being 20 and 24…absolutely. But what hasn’t changed is my belief in the absurdity of the idea that gay people don’t deserve equal rights. Or that women don’t deserve equal pay and decision making power over their own healthcare.
I just can’t look someone in the eye (especially my future children, whether boy or girl, gay or straight) and say that my (or my husbands) take home pay meant more to me than their rights.
So I’ve decided.
It’s pretty simple.
Midwest Mountainess 
I understand your conflict but I guess I am just part of the older generation who understands free enterprise, who had grandparents who came to the US legally, who understands what the Holocaust was all about and so has a horrible time standing by and watching the US perpetrate a holocaust against its own that outweighs what Hitler did 30 fold. I worked hard as a single mother to raise my kids without being on welfare for any longer than was absolutely necessary. Call it pride, call it what you want, but they turned out with the same kind of work ethic that I was raised with and are leading productive lives. There are more people on welfare now than four years ago. There are more people on food stamps now than there were four years ago. There are 23 million Americans unemployed. So those of us who do work are paying even more for those who aren’t. President Obama is killing small business. He is going to penalize my young adult children for not having health insurance when they can’t afford it. I am sorry but this is not the man who I want to lead my country out of the mess he has gotten into. He has tripled the national debt. He has blocked the creation of thousands of jobs. He stood idly by and watched the Libyan ambassador, his aide adn two US Marines get murdered. He is not an ally of Israel. I am sorry but there is not one thing about that man that would make me vote for him.
If we are thinking about our children’s future, I think it’s more important to think about how we will stick our children with 16 trillion dollars (or 20 trillion by 2016) in debt. We are honestly on the road to Greece. It’s crazy to think how much our kids will be paying in taxes when they are our age. Basically, the American dream will be a long lost memory. Obama promised to get on a path to balanced the budget in 2008 and instead added 4 trillion dollars in debt. Gov. Romney has experience in balancing budgets in the real world and Obama has NEVER balanced a budget.
I appreciate your views Jodi. It’s great to live in a country where we can all have our own opinions.
Ali,
This is really nice and well put. Written well, too! I will be making the same decision. For that reason, for economic reasons and for foreign policy reasons. It’s really great when people get involved in political decisions. Even better when people support a candidate because they support their candidates policies without the negativity of tearing down and insulting others.
-Chad
Awesome Chad – Thanks for commenting.
Well said Ali.
Thank you Kathy. It’s scary putting yourself out there!
I have been trying to figure out an elegant way to describe EXACTLY what you posted to the conservative folks here in Texass. Thanks!!
I can’t take too much credit, the quote says it all, I just commented further. Thanks though!