Did You Know?

"Stars and Stripes" - Andrew Neighbour

At various times I have sung the praises of the Internet in this blog. Usually it has to do with how it makes my life easier, or better. Today, I want to share with you how it can change the way you vote, which ultimately empowers you in this Democracy we live in.

Have you ever walked into the polling place, you know who you want to vote for President, or maybe there are one or two issues you feel passionately about and you're well versed on? Or perhaps someone has tried to convince you how to vote one way or the other, and you just want the straight facts, but when you get to the voting machine, you've forgotten your reading glasses, there's a huge line behind you, and you're uncertain because of double negatives which way to vote.

Yes, that's right. All that information is online. Typically each state has a website with ballot issues there for you to review before you go to the polls. In my state this can be found at the Secretary of State's site. A quick Google should find this for you. By pulling up those initiatives ahead of time, you can read first hand and decide for yourself how to vote. You don't have to depend on who has created the most clever television advertisement.

Another way the Internet can help you vote your conscience, is to sort out through all the BS. I was curious about some of the vindictive political ads, so took it upon myself to do some research. In less then 15 minutes, I came to a better understanding of some pretty outrageous mudslinging.

In the old elementary school I attended quite some time ago, there was a motto emblazoned in the concrete lentil above the door. It said "knowledge is power." That saying has stuck with me through the years. Early voting has already begun. Go out and vote!--Ruth Mitchell

(c) 2008 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Is McCarthyism Dead? Maybe Not

Yesterday, while waiting patiently at a "big box" to get some tweaking done on my new computer I was approached by a man who first tried to blatantly flatter me then resorted to humor to engage me in conversation. I resisted but did eventually, out of sheer boredom, finally get sucked in. Within the next two minutes he said, "I can't believe we are about to elect a Marxist (code word "commie") to the Presidency of the United States. This after he had told me how he gets out of speeding tickets by telling the officer he is a former Navy vet, and that his mortgage is not jeopardized so he didn't really care about anyone else's plight. Wow, Mr., I'm just waiting on the Geeks to fix my computer.

As there is one political party in our country that seems to attract such belligerent propaganda junkies,I was certain that he was just your plain vanilla racist who had learned a big word. I've learned not to assume anything, and I wanted him to show his hand after such an inflammatory remark. Sure enough, he was talking about Obama. I wanted to stay stone faced and say something appropriate, but the reflex of laughter just poured out of me. It was like the polarity of the jerk magnet had been suddenly reversed, and to my great pleasure he disappeared across the room faster than a speeding bullet. Today is a good day to think about outcomes, to cherish our home planet Earth, and to have compassion for ourselves and others. Take heart, be creative and no matter what your political or religious proclivities are, rejoice in the many gifts we receive.

(c) 2008 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved