Your Personal Life

On the first Tuesday of each November, elections are usually held for major federal, state and local races. We elect candidates who, in our best judgment, will fulfill the campaign promises they have made to gain our trust to win the coveted public office they so desire. We hear and see the 'mud-slinging' ads about a candidate's opponent; we listen and read about professional organizations who lend their endorsement for candidates. With all this happening, what are we to do and believe? How should we approach an election? After all, we get overwhelmed with the 15-to-30 second ads that don't say much, are usually incorrect, and try so hard to make us vote a certain way. First, your vote is YOUR personal endorsement. However, a recommendation before proceeding: Some time this weekend, sit in quiet, and look at your family (parents, spouse, significant other, children), look around your home, look at your bills, and reflect on events you have experienced first-hand. Ask these questions: Do I have affordable housing? Do I or my family have good-paying, stable, long-term jobs? Do I have affordable health care that provides sufficient coverage for everyone? Do I have to struggle and juggle the bills to get by, because work is no longer plentiful? Do I agree what my current elected officials have done, promise to do? And most importantly, like a job performance evaluation, have they met the minimum promises/requirements I expected them to reach. Elections are not something "out" there--Elections begin with YOU! Your needs, dreams, wishes, goals, freedoms, liberties, justice--all begin with you. YOU have the ability to learn about what the candidates believe in, their voting record if not a new candidate. Contact your local League of Women Voters to obtain a voter's guide. If you do not vote and were able to legally, don't complain. You then chose to ignore the power your vote has with all the others. If you do vote, vote with knowledge about the candidates. If you read the soup labels to know what ingredients are in it, or read instruction manuals for your job, you can also read about your candidates. Please consider this: You are voting for more than yourself--you are bonding and joining with all others of like mind who share your mindset, and want a better world. Please don't avoid this--it will affect your destiny personally.