The Election

I have been avoiding this one for a while. This year, I think more than any election that I remember before, I have done some serious soul searching as to what I believe. I think it may have to do with the fact that my vote may actually make a difference (unlike in some very, very, very red state in the west where I used to live).

I have a couple of co-workers who would be considered very conservative by the people of Utah. They have both been giving me the full court press for better than a year to come over to their side of the political spectrum. They started out with very rationally explaining their beliefs on why they are conservative. I tried to explain why I feel the way I feel. We had some very spirited and enlightening conversations on many subjects (health care, education, energy, welfare etc.). I learned a great deal from both of them and it really made me think about why I have always tended towards the left.

When it came down to it, the thought of moving my political beliefs to the right just did not sit right with me. I believe that it is our governments responsibility to provide the opportunity for every citizen to succeed. Sometimes this means giving a helping hand. This idea is very foreign and in some cases very offensive to people on the political right. I don't consider myself a socialist, my economic beliefs tend towards the conservative in most cases. However, I don't believe the Laffer curve is infallible. Trickle down economics do not work. One thing that proponents of that philosophy fail to take into account is the greed of the people who are supposed to If you can trudge through this it all is fairly interesting. I guess I am just a bleeding heart.

Finally, the negativity and nastiness of the whole campaign really has turned me off. I really question the ability of anyone to make thoughtful decisions on the welfare of hundreds of millions of people if they can be so petty and nasty to a political opponent. Maybe I am falling prey to the "liberal media" but I think the majority of the nasty campaigning has come from the right. It all makes me a bit sick to my stomach.

Rather than blathering on and on I will just say that I voted for Obama. I feel good about my choice.