Here on the cusp of electing the 44th President of the United States, this is what I know:
+ I have very few political posts left in me. I’ll probably comment on the election when it’s over, but that will be it. I’m thrilled that this is going to be decided (hopefully) tomorrow.
+ I hate what politics have become in America. I’m not saying I have any solutions to fix the system, all I’m saying is that I can’t stand the divisiveness, the rhetoric, and the fear that is being used as currency. Think about the last few months of campaigning. We are trying to be scared into not voting for the other candidate. Look at the letter Focus on the Family sent out trying to scare Christians into what 2012 might look like. Did you read the letter? I thought it was way over the top and irresponsible. Including lines like “It’s almost impossible now (in 2012) to keep any children from seeing pornography.” and “Gas now costs more than $7.00 per gallon, and many democrats now openly applaud this…” Really Mr. Dobson? And Obama’s campaign hasn’t been much better. Playing off the dismal approval rating for Bush, they’ve been trying to scare people into believing that McCain is the next Bush. This is what it comes down to now with all the negative advertising: (which according to reports, both candidates’ ads have been more than 60% negative) Which guy do I dislike the least? What a shame.
+ I do not think you are limited to 2 choices tomorrow. My buddy Jake and I went back and forth on this a couple weeks ago, but I still believe it is okay to vote for someone other than the big two. I also believe it’s okay not to vote, which I know is an unpopular position to take. Yes, men have died and shed blood to protect our right to vote. I am very thankful for that. But they have also died to protect my right NOT to vote. I am thankful I live in a country where I am not forced into voting for someone. If I have a good reason to abstain (if there is such a thing), I can abstain. That is a right as well. And as for voting for a third party candidate, I believe it is your duty to do so if your conscience compels you to. Many of you dislike both candidates, yet still feel compelled to vote for one over the other as “the lesser of two evils”. That’s fine. If you feel compelled to do that, it is your right, and I support that. But if I feel that Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin or Ron Paul or whoever will make a better choice than the Big Two, and I feel compelled to vote for one of them, then that’s what I’m going to do. And I don’t think it’s a cop out, either. How can staying true to your conscience ever be a cop-out?
+ Derek Webb recently wrote an article for Patrol Magazine in which he says some of the same things I’ve just said, only better. He makes the case that scripture does not command Christians to vote, and that it should be a matter of conscience. Worth the 5-minute read, if you have 5 minutes.
+ Finally, a question: Which network should I watch the election coverage on tomorrow night? What will you be watching on? One of the major news networks, or will you go cable with CNN, MSNBC, or FOX News?