Do All Votes Really Count?

Since my first voting right at the age of 18 in1964, I have been an independent voter because I want to know that I have given everyone who is running for all political offices a fair review and voting decision. My interest and committed to being an independent voter began with influencing conversations with my Father, Louis when I turned 16. He and I discussed the importance of informed voting. Sometimes I get weary,but no matter how difficult it may seem to educate myself about what laws are in effect and what issues are prioritv I vote informed and honorably. My Dad was a first generation American born German descendant and being voting as a citizen in the USA was a matter of conscience and great pride. He often remarked that,"having a voice through voting was thought of as an enormous responsibility, back then. His favorite President was Mr. Harry S. Truman. I was taught by him that all politic parties, candidates, issues, and the Congress and Senate form everything that effects our daily lives. The media discussed candidates views on economics, health care, laws, safety, but he said," We are suppose to keep religion and politics; separate, they in the know might say. " Dad often reminded me that his, mine, or others political and religious commitments are our private business and not to be taken lightly ,except at the voting polls." "Our private voice of what is important becomes public each and every time you cast a ballot, he would say." "Always know your vote counts no matter who wins. loses, or drops out; excercising your right to vote is what is important."

My second influence, on my decision to be an Independent Voter , was in an American History class- in my junior year of high school. Initially, I thought the class would be the same old standard text, viewless discussions of what facts really occurred in my homeland's history. Some "historical facts " were half truths and others full circle lies that were actually based on bias of stereotypes rather than documented history. My upbringing came with a lot of actual historical experiencws as my maternal and paternal families ancestry was multiracial and ethnically cross cultural. Their blood line included Native Americans and Spanish that have been on this First Nation Land for thousands of years and have their own political processes within their hearts. Their ancestry also includes immigrants from Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Russia, and Basque country thus I grew up listening to a vast array of informed heartfelt discussions about my voting right as a privilege. I have always felt every vote truly does count for my generations and the descendants who struggled through so much just to be American Citizens. My family's views greatly influenced with my political views.

For example, My Mother, Ruby was an Independent Voter, my Father was a Democratic voter, my Grandmother's on both maternal and paternal only would say,"Vote your conscious", and my Grandfather's would tell me to,"Vote after I learned enough about each and every candidate to know how to make an honorable decision." Those influences helped me to understand myself as a voter with priorities. My priorities are; first to know who is running for office and what their experience is in leadership, what opinions they have of issues that impact me but that will effect my descendant's generations. The hardest decision on issues for me is having to search for truth about candidates and which candidate will best represent the majority and the minority voters is a non partisn manner that is thought-provoking and consistent with their voting records..

Of course this article is only ,"my informed opinion, based on my life experiences, influences, and checking politicians voting records. I match candidates words with what they voted regardless of the hyph about them in the news. I research their home front and who and what they represented paying close attention to what they claim as priorities. Sometimes, what we do not say speaks louder than what we actually say about priorties of representation. It is my impression that we have not had many diversified choices in who is running for office; except in local politics. Nationally, it appears that many who run for office are either to well known or not known at all. For me, at least, the last two presidential elections were very disappointing because there was very little information available about diversity of experience regarding candidates- both in life and politics. There was rarely any "gut level"discussions of "unpopular issues" such as religion, voting records, or impact statements in the past 12 years of my voting experience. It seemed to me that "what if?" was candidates trying to connection themselves with those who earned and won previous elections.

When I am educating myself about candidates I want to find someone who represents themselves as the leader of our democracy in a by-partisan manner, not just win. I am convinced that because we are a free country we are part of all of the Americas, and can be a tremendous influence on all people throughout the world in non partisanship healing of differences.My voting decisions are not based on what degree someone has, who their parents were, what religion they embrace, but who they are as a person. I certainly understand that every human being can make mistakes and misspeak and then apology and change their tones on prioties and issues. However, a candidates patterns of consistent behavior, both personally and professionally would be my ideal candidate. Their voting tells me that they will represent everyone fairly during their campaign and throughout their political career. Therefore, I search for the candidate that understands cooperation, teamwork, issues of every income class, considers the inner city issues, rural issues, and suburban issues; throughout my state of Ohio, and all of the United States. I usually wait until the last minute to decide vote for, not always but usually. I watch how they are interconnected with our world people's and how they express their concerns for others. I begin my search for candidates long before the polls or headlines and I follow House of Representatives,seeking out information about our Senator sand Governors voting and Governmental Committees interactions. I prioritize what they send to be voted on the floor of our Legislature and how cooperative they are with those that oppose their views or votes.

I am not one bit interested in any candidate that can not tolerate difference and does not promoted teamwork. I do not care who wears the best clothes, who had the best speech written, or who discusses what is popular; at the moment. Instead, I do care and am intrigued by whether their heart, mind and conscience is engaged in following through with campaign promise as the next Chief and Commander of our United States of America. I listen for descriptive reports from candidates that has actual meaning not quotes or attacks on other candidates. I do not vote for mud slingers no matter their qualifications.
I have kept notebooks of my impressions ,positive and negative, about our current and future political officials throughout my voting life. I jot down notes not just when its time for the next campaign and pending election but when they are on the news, walking their dogs, interacting with different benefits. For me, being an informed voter on any issue or candidate is an important part of being a second generation American born citizen and the descendant of those born thousands of years ago on this great land. I keep awareness of the many ancestors who died on this land fighting for the right to be here and to vote. So it is my legacy to make my vote for the President mean something historically. Another part of my voting decisions are to have discussions with family, friends,and strangers about what is important to them in regards to the political issues whether I think those issues or important or not I always learn from those talks and am a more informed voter afterwards. Throughout my voting history I have talked to hundreds of other citizens about candidates and made informed decisions when casting my ballot.

Deciding on one candidate is hard for me this election. This election seems difficult to me and to those I have talked to about it. For one thing, we finally have truly diversified choices of 17+ candidates who all have at least one valid viewpoint on an important issue. So as of writing this article I remain, "undecided". I I must reflect more on what I have learned about our choices and decide in about 10 months. After I have picked one of the candidates to run for President then I must decide on who I will vote for as a responsible Vice Presidential Candidate. Those two political choices for me means that I must understand the international impact and influences of both President and Vice Presidential candidates. Who would I cast a ballot in favor of and who I do not vote for in 2008
lies on the fence of pros and cons; not dicotomies.

During my 43 years as a voter, I have heard, read, and discussed critical issues as being the reason, to vote for or against a candidate. I have listened to ridiculous reasons why to vote or not vote for certain candidates as discussed in editorials/opinion articles, during debates, and general informal conversations and I realized that I am not the only one having difficulty making an informed decision of who to vote for in this upcoming election. Yesterday while standing in the grocery line, I joined in to a discussion about pet peeves related to candidates and about elections Citizens who refuse to vote. One gentleman in the line behind me said,"What are they thinking? Not Voting, why that is absurd, he said. Some others I talked to remarked that they feel that their vote does not matter. Now that was a hard one to swallow because if everyone felt that way our democracy would disappear and a dictator would take over our free county. Others tell me they just do not know who to vote for and so they just don't vote. "Oh no please go ask questions, have someone discuss candidates. BUT PLEASE VOTE ! I tell them; your voting is important to you, me, our families, and all citizens in our USA. Are all vote important ?

Another pet peeve I have is how some people decide on who to vote. Last week at the library I heard some examples of how other decide who to vote for and they included reasons like their bank account, they are handsome or pretty, they dress well, they are tall, they are the same religion or political party, they heard the candidates name and can recognize it on a ballot, the candidate is from their home state, or because they are a certain gender or race or age. IS THAT RIGHT TO DECIDE ON THAT BASIS FOR THE NEXT COMMANDER AND CHIEF OF OUR BELOVED USA! Some do exclude others because of their race, gender, religion, disability, or sexual orientation or because they are a grassroots candidate, but is that the American Way of Voting? I thought that was against our protected classes human and civil rights laws. It seems that this current election time has brought about some very "different" reasons to vote for someone and not vote for another. Is it that way because we now have true diversity in out candidates for President for the first time, at least in my voting history its a first.

In concluding my opinion in this article I want to share with you statements from others about who they will vote or not vote for in our next Presidential election. I picked the first twenty eligible voters, that I have spoken with during this past month, and have listed their reasoning for voting for certain candidates below.

You, the readers of this article, decide if they are informed or not:
1. "I am voting for Hillary because she was married to President Clinton and now it will be a dual presidency;he can finish what he started."
2. "Obama because he is black and we need a Hawaiian president."
3. "I am for Guillani because he is from New York; thats where I was born."
4. I am sorry said one person but, "I am voting for Hillary just because she is a woman; I don't care for her political records, but she is a woman."
5." I am not voting for Romney because he is to good looking and is a Mormon."
6. "Well, I want to vote for Edwards, I think he is the best candidate but he is not leading in the polls and I vote for leaders."
7. "Huckabee seems to religious to suit me so I will vote for;"Now what's that candidates name from South Carolina?" he get my vote."
8. " I do not vote; it useless, my vote don't make a difference anyway."
9. "I am voting for Joe Biden; he has the most experience, he loves America, he is diversified in his voting records, and represents all Americans."
10. "Hmm, I think I will vote for Richardson but maybe Romney but certainly not for a woman or a non white."
11. "I vote for the first one listed on the ballot."
12. " My vote always goes to the person who helps out the farmers."
13. "Gee, I suppose I should find out who is running but it takes to much time;I saw Dodd on TV and he looks like a president."
14. "Well, I think McCain has our best interest at heart but he does not speak well in public."
15." I will think about who to vote for after I see the straw polls next month; that leader will get my vote."
16. "As long as its not a Bush relative; I will vote for anybody."
17. "My ballot is for who ever is leading in the National Polls and will win."
18. " I am undecided between Romney, Biden, and Dodd; I want to look at their debates and caucuses before I decide."
19."I will vote for who ever is the eldest politic an, I always do, regardless of the party."
20. My vote is always for those who have served as a politic an and in the military; guess that leaves Hillary out."

What do you think of these responses? How do you decide the critical issues? How informed are you about the 17+candidates voting records, biographies, speeches, or views? What is important to you in a candidate?...In a Vice Presidential Candidate? How will you decide who our next President will be or not be?
Or are you undecided also?