Vote based on your values, beliefs
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In My Humble Opinion
Jodi McDade
Unless you are totally unplugged from all news outlets, social media, and live off grid, you are probably like me and cannot wait for November 9 – regardless of the results.
I am trying to cut down on the news that I listen to or take more breaks from it because it is SO repetitive. I try not to pay attention to polls because I know they can be manipulated by what organization conducts them and by how the questions are worded.
One of the things polls and news reports do is either make you WANT to vote for “your side” or to not vote at all! I’m really not sure anymore if there is anything that is actually non-biased, truthful reporting so we end up with mostly opinions – like my column. But the bottom line is that voting is a responsibility, a right and the only way you can have a say in how our government is operated. And, unfortunately, not all of our voices are heard or paid attention to.
Elections are about issues and policies – NOT PERSONALITIES. This is not about whether Donald Trump was a bully who sent out mean tweets – he is not on the ballot but, to a degree, his policies are. It’s not about whether Joe Biden likes ice cream and loves being in Delaware or even about his son’s issues – it’s about his policies that are on the ballot.
It is up to each one of us to decide where we stand on the issues and policies of the incumbent government versus our own personal values and beliefs.
Within the issues and policies we need to consider, we need to decide which one or ones are the MOST important to us, our family and our future. The polls shift around, but it seems that the economy, inflation and border security seem to be holding in the top positions, with education, climate change and abortion coming in behind them.
In MY opinion, the economy and inflation are tied together because they drive each other. When I ask myself if I am better off today than I was two years ago, the answer is a resounding NO. Simply looking at gas prices, grocery prices and the supply change issues explain the entire thing when you compare the policies that were in place in November 2020 versus the ones that are in place now – and there is ONE difference that controls all the rest.
In November 2020, we were energy independent, producing all the gas and oil that we needed AND selling it to other countries – so they were dependent on US. On day one of the current administration, the oil pumps were shut down, our supply went down, and the cost of gas, oil and fuel skyrocketed. All in order to save the climate.
The supply and cost of oil drives all the facets of our economy. When the price of gas goes up, the price of everything else goes up – your personal transportation cost, the cost to get goods to the grocery shelves, the cost of goods themselves. But one other thing DID go down – your ability to stretch your income to cover this rise in expenses. If you were making $15 an hour in 2020, you are probably only making $12 an hour now after the added expenses you have.
I personally am not happy with the direction our law enforcement is going, not happy with the way our education systems are going and certainly not happy with the ILLEGAL immigrants that are pouring across our border EVERY single day. If there is a problem with the climate it is NOT in our country, it’s in the third world countries who are not concerned with pollution.
I’m good with abortion not being a nationwide “right,” but that it has been moved back to the states where it should have been all the time. I am OK with an abortion for certain medical issues up to a certain point, but I DO NOT support abortion on demand up to and including during childbirth. My beliefs are based on my values, and I have to reexamine them regularly. Maybe you should, too.
The bottom line here is that elections are not popularity contests like choosing the Homecoming Court. It’s serious business about how our government operates the laws that protect us. I’m sure I would probably like President Biden on an individual personal basis, but I haven’t found an issue or policy yet that I agree with him on. On the flip side, I’m not sure I would actually like President Trump because of his rough edges and outbursts, but I found out after he was elected that I agreed with almost all of his policies – and I was shocked!
So, again, how you vote on November 8 needs to be based on YOUR personal values and beliefs. No one is going to know how you vote unless you tell them.
If you firmly agree with the policies and issues that the Democratic Party supports, vote straight ticket. If you firmly agree with the policies and issues that the Republican Party supports, vote straight ticket. But, if you agree and disagree with each party, vote for the PERSON you feel has the best qualifications, experience, and supports your values and issues regardless of the party affiliation.
You have just over a month to do your homework so you will know you made the best choice for you and your family – and your country. And then be sure you vote!