As an adult I can not ignore my responsibility and privilege to vote. My disappointment stems from the reason why some do not. I have to choose between figures who do not match my desires for one in such an important office. But, most have been clear enough to show me that they are not the least evil. I am going to vote for a homophobe. I will vote for George Bush.
The impetus came two days ago: I do not want John Kerry on the throne. The breaking straw came from his plans for America's future. Kerry (if elected) will try to get the federal government to create a nationwide after-school program until 6 oclock. Before you say 'yeah,' consider that states are resonsible for education. More importantly, consider the wholesale expense of such a program for three million or so kids.
But this is secondary. Hell, Bush is a big waster. Not only are we funding the Iraq cleanup, I keep hearing murmurs that we should go back to the moon. Yes, the moon. As if 8 Apollo missions didn't prove that there is nothing over there. I can not imagine what the polititions imagine their job is. It is all well and good to say 'If I were president, I would ...' But, they are always after big programs even if taxes are cut. Geez, I had thought that four years and inability to be impeached except for high crimes would separate the president from pleasing the whims of the constituants.
Now, I had thought to vote for a third party candidate, mostly a Libertarian. I was especially enamoured with my assertion, 'You tell me not to vote for them because they will not win, but how will they win if I do not vote for them?' But, I have looked at them and found them lacking. I can not imagine how a libertarian candidate was chosen. I looked back in April and they all read from the same script and I want to yell "Medicinal marijuana isn't a big fKing deal when american civilians are having their freaking heads severed off and Pakistani mosques are being blown up." So I looked yesterday at the candidate that was pulled out of a hat and didn't like him. Badnarick, I think is his name. Here are some website quotes:
Gun Control Means Being Able to Hit your Target:If I have a "hot button" issue, this is definitely it. [not to the rest of us]
Should Gay Couples Be Allowed to Marry?: "Marriage partners, not government, should define the terms and spiritual orientation of their union in accordance with our nation's guarantee of religious freedom." [Which is perfect]
He put the results of a straw vote on his site and I am super skeptical of its findings. If libertarians really had conquered 60% of the entire US, I don't think that this would have been such a quiet takeover. I bet that commetators like Michael Medved would be in an uproar. But, the solution to this contundrum may be in the fact that it is a straw vote, which means that you have to find it. A great majority of voters are not looking on the internet to cast their imaginary votes, so it may not represent the reality of the situation. Remember that picture in every social studies book? The one that says "Dewey wins in landslide election" against Truman. That was based upon a straw vote based upon that newspaper's readers and not the entire population.
But, the most damning for any candidate in my eyes is a rejection of the, yes nationless, 'war on terror' and the correlary cleanup of Iraq. Which he does. The only person I hear that wishes to finish the job is Bush. Terrorists declared war on the US long ago and we only just stopped appeasing them. Remember that the planes were the second attack on the World Trade Center? A truck was blown up in its underground parking lot. Really, that is just one example. The true point is that our livelyhood is in danger and retreating from Iraq will not make them go away. I know that installing democracy will not work in that region, but we are safer for these past four years. Like homosexuality, terrorism has been thrust into the limelight for both good and ill. I do not want a coward who will turn the light away so that we may be attacked by an unseen enemy again.
I reject sanction of the victim. I abhore putting my stamp of approval on the rights-smearing, homophobic oil-luster Bush. But, I see that Kerry is too dangerous to let anywhere near the halls of power because it isn't he that we would be letting in. The nature of the secondhander is to have none. The marginal parties offer no alternative. I choose in my long term defense. I resolutely stand behind the enemy of my enemy who may be mine. I will vote this November for George Bush Junior.