Election Day

Today is Election Day and it is one of the biggest election days in recent memory.  Usually our area has a 20% or lower voter turn-out rate--even lower than that for non-presidential elections--but it looks like this election turn out is setting records here and in many other places around the country.  The news is reporting that voter turn out for this mid-term election is the highest since 1914 which is a pretty big deal.

If you voted today, good for you!  And I don't really care who people vote for as long as they get out and vote their conscience and do their due diligence to understand the issues and the candidates.  I can't remember a more contentious election as this particular election seems to be hitting all of the hot buttons--Republicans vs Democrats, healthcare, immigration, manipulation of public opinion via social media, etc.  It should be a dramatic rest of the evening...

Remember to Vote

It's currently the primary voting season in many jurisdictions.  Just a quick reminder to get out and vote.  While this isn't a "big" election that gets a lot of voters to the polls, every vote counts, voting is a civic duty, and it can make a difference in how your community, state, and federal government is run.

Vote or No Vote?

Based on a tiny, non-scientific poll (ours) we found that 79% of the people who responded to the question "Will you vote in the upcoming election?" will vote and a surprising 21% said they would not vote. Unfortunately we didn't break out the reasons for not voting (apathy, lack of a decent candidate, felon, non-citizen) but that seems like a huge percentage of people who aren't going to exercise their right to vote. Granted I would have liked a better set of candidates to vote for but I did cast my mail in ballot. I'm just happy that in a week all of the horrible political advertising will stop. It seems like the closer it gets to the election, the more heinous the advertisements get.

Holding Our Politicians Accountable

Our politicians work for us. Unfortunately, I don't think many of them have a) read the Constitution, b) realize they have constituents to answer to, and c) been contacted (en mass) by their constituents. We need to change this. It's as simple as 1, 2, 3...

#1--Find out who represents you at www.congress.org

#2--Look at the issues that either impact you directly or have a negative impact on our country, our rights, and/or our future. Here's some examples:

• 'Financial Crisis Buries DoJ Bombshell'
• 'Inside Account of US Eavesdropping on Americans'

#3--Make your views known. Put your thoughts together either in writing or verbally (the more passionate and articulate the better) and contact your legislators by mail, email, fax, phone, or in person. Get your friends to do the same. Post your thoughts in your blog. Spread the word. Vote. Support the candidates that support your views. Join a protest. Sign a petition.

DPT--Vote!

You can't miss the fact that it is election season. No matter what side of the issues you are on, it is your right (and your duty) to vote. There's only 53 days left until the November 4th general election. Register today! Go to http://www.eac.gov/ for more information.

Presidential Race Heats Up Tomorrow

The first presidential caucuses will take place tomorrow in Iowa. No matter your political leanings, it is important that ALL Americans take part in the very important process of electing our next president. Here's some info:

• An Electoral Compass to Determine Your Position in the Electoral Landscape http://www.electoralcompass.com/language/en
• And another quiz to judge your compatibility with the candidates http://glassbooth.org/
• An overview about Ron Paul being conveniently not invited to the upcoming televised debates http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/31/debate.limits.ap/

The bottom line is that is is up to each American to participate in the process and it is also up to each American to hold those in positions of power (for example Fox for excluding Paul because the "the bus is too small") responsible for their actions (by voting with your dollars and your support of their network and sponsors). Sometimes those in a position of power forget that they are part of a democracy...it's up to us to remind them of this fact as we (democratically) use our attention and money to support that which furthers democracy and starve that which threatens to suppress democracy.