When selecting the candidate for whom I will vote for, I typically have a few criteria’s that I consider strongly. The candidates moral values, their experience and what issue is best for me at the present moment that I most align with.
Every year since I can recall, there has been the “Social Issues” that come into play and debate: abortion, gay rights/marriage, immigration, discrimination, religion, environment and education. I sometimes believe that candidates or political parties tend to place fear in voters when it comes to these issues.
Every election we have the candidates basically making the same promises of change, fixing this or that, or ‘cleaning up Washington’. Each blames the others parties or previous administration for the mess the country is in. To me it’s the same rhetoric every election cycle. Like a scratched record playing over and over the same line.
So this election year, I’ve been particularly perplexed. I knew early on I was not an Obama supporter. I didn’t vote for him 4 years ago and have not been impressed with him these last 4 years. He’s been more of a disappointment to me. I also was not a big Romney supporter either early on. He was not my clear favorite running in the Republican Primary earlier in the year. However, once it became apparent that he was the Republican nominee, I had to look at him more as a serious candidate.
As an Independent voter, I take great pride and responsibility in casting my vote for the correct candidate in every election. I base my decision on the candidate and issues, not on a party line or party platform. I don’t vote straight along any party line. In fact, 4 years ago, I voted for candidates in three different parties in various offices they were running for. I like a sampling of every party in every office, forcing working relationships for the betterment of all citizens.
I consider myself well educated on many issues. I can easily hold a discussion on any variety of issues, current and former. I enlighten my knowledge by watching news of various stations and views. I read articles, op-ed pieces, blogs on issues and candidates. I consider myself an active, informed voter.
As I stated in the beginning, there are social issues that are talked about every election. I firmly believe that those same social issues will be around every election. Social issues are the catalyst for what makes our country diverse. We will always have disagreements with family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers when it comes to social issues. Somehow, social issues always head to our judicial system and seem never-ending. Because of this, I’ve come to realize, I hardly vote on social issues lately. This is not to say that social issues aren’t important to me, they are very important, just that they don’t personally affect my decision any longer in my vote as other issues currently do.
Watching our world change, our technology advance, our financial institutions struggle, wars, terror, uprising in various countries, the continued hate directed at the United Stations from foreign leaders and groups, along with seeing our personal individual liberties being slowly taken away by government control, I have learned that voting in regards to both my personal safety and financial safety are the deciding factors in my selecting a candidate.
After my slight hesitation and slow warming up to Mitt Romney these last few months, even weeks, I have concluded that he would be the better candidate to lead our country in a better direction for the next 4 years. I also conclude that he is best suited to work on turning our spiraling economy around, helping my financial safety or security in the long run.
I know there are many people that don’t like Romney for his various views on certain issues, but I implore people to consider first your financial safety this election. We have all seen the rising cost of gas, food, every day living. I doubt many of us can say that we have seen more money in our pockets, bank accounts or come in to us than we have spent on the increase of goods and cost of living these last 4 years.
Yes, social issues are important, but financial issues should trump those issues that will be constantly debated every year, every election, every time, in every judicial way allowed.
I won’t disparage President Obama, though there are many things I can say about him, but I will simply say that I truly believe it was his time 4 years ago to show the country and the world that we could elect a black man president, I am proud that I lived in that momentous moment in history. Now his time has passed, his opportunity has diminished and his leadership is called into question. The “Hope for a New Change” happened 4 years ago on a social issue-race.
Now we need a “hope and change” in our economy and dire financial situation-a fiscal issue should be what our vote is about this election.
Mitt Romney has the skills and leadership I firmly believe to change this.
The beauty of our Constitution and Country is that if Romney doesn’t do in 4 years, we move onto another person. Why wait 4 more years with our current President with the “hope” he can fix something he couldn’t do these last 4 years?
Ask yourself, at your job, if you couldn’t do the job right for 4 years, would your employer keep you on 4 more years with the ‘hope’ you can do the job right or would they let you go and bring in someone else to try?
Let’s fix our economy….Let’s give Mitt Romney a chance.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
I'm BACK!!!!!!!!!!! Lets talk Politics!
There is nothing more important every four years than participating in our right to vote for our President. I take this right as a privilege, reminding me how blessed I am to live in a free country where all citizens are given this right that so many of our fellow inhabitants of this planet in other countries are not granted.
In 2008, we saw the election of the first minority for President. That election showed how far our country and people have come in the past 40 plus years with the issue of race. It was a proud moment in my lifetime to be a witness of.
Through the course of my lifetime, I have always been fascinated, intrigued and excited about government, history and politics. This started in the 6th grade when my teacher Ms. Carol Sparks at Los Serranos Elementary School spoke on the election of Ronald Reagan for President and taught us about Presidents. I recall profoundly her words that day “when you are older you will get to vote one day and when you do vote, you have to understand what is important to you” That lesson sparked a immediate reaction in me about politics and began my lifelong qwest for constant knowledge and participate in politics, elections and government.
There was a young girl named Samantha Smith who wrote a letter to the President of Russia. She received a reply. I remember thinking “if she can write to the President of Russia and get a reply, I can write to my President and get a reply”. So I did. President Ronald Reagan, well someone in his correspondence office, received my simple letter and found it important enough to respond to a young 12 year boy in California. I recall receiving that letter in the mail and how excited I was! I then began writing letters for the next 6 years to everyone in government- from the vice –presidents, first lady, governors of every state, senators, congressmen, mayors, judges and so many others. 90% of the time I received a reply, some I even wrote more than once and the letters in return came with more personal responses.
In the 10th grade, I had a government teacher named Ms. Foster. One day I decided to share with her all my letters and photos I’ve received over the years from various elected officials. She was fascinated and excited to know of a student who took so much joy in government. She asked to keep my binder of letters and photos for a few days to share with all her classes and students. I felt proud.
When I turned 18 and able to vote, there was no Presidental election I could vote in. I did proudly vote for the next 4 years in state and local elections.
I moved to Washington D.C in 1990, wow, how exciting that was to be in center of nations government. I was fascinated and I remember walking from my home in Capital Hill to the Capital one day, passing the Supreme Court and doing a tour. I remember the first time I saw the White House in person, I was overwhelmed. That short time I lived in Washington D.C, I felt I embodied the spirit of politics. I was there during the parade welcoming home our troops from the first Gulf War. It was a very patriotic feeling.
When I returned in late 1991 to California, I immediately had the urge, the prompting, to get involved in elections. There was a news story happening in regards to a L.A. Judge whose sentence sparked protests. I was interested in this story, I don’t know what prompted me, but I felt that the Judge was being targeted unfairly. I decided to call the judge’s chambers and voice my support for her. I left a message with her court clerk. I then decided to write a letter of support to the Judge. She received my letter and sent a reply of thanks and also invited me to meet with her at any time. At this same time, the vocal leader in the protests against the judge was holding rallies at the courthouse. I felt there was too much rhetoric, hate and vicious things being said by her. I decided to write her a letter calling her protest campaign narrow minded and race related without looking at the facts of the case. I decided, maybe too innocently; to hand deliver this letter to her at one of her rallies. I went to the Compton Courthouse and before the start of the rally, walked up to City Councilwoman Patrica Moore and handed her my letter. I recall vividly her facial reactions, at first she assumed I was there to support her and the rally and she smiled at me then she opened the letter and when she realized it was not in support of her, her expression to me was one of disregard and she brushed me off, handing my letter to her assistant. I then proceeded to the courthouse and went up to the floor of the chambers of Judge Joyce Karlin to meet with her. In talking with her, I found out that her husband was running for Congress. I wanted to work on his campaign!! She gave me his campaign directors name and number and told me she would let her husband know I would be in touch and willing to help. She also invited me to any of her fundraisers, as she was facing a recall vote.
I didn’t consider myself at the time a democrat or republican. In fact, I honestly didn’t understand the platforms for each party at the time.
I contacted Bill Fahey’s office to offer my services on his campaign. He accepted my help. This started my various campaign involvements. I saw the inner workings of a campaign.
Bill Fahey was a republican candidate for Congress. One of his primary opponents was Maureen Reagan, former President Ronald Reagans daughter. At one point, her campaign was holding a picnic fundraiser where her father and former first lady Nancy Reagan and Jack Kemp, the Secretary of Housing and former Congressman would be in attendance. I decided I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. I went to her fundraiser and was able to get a picture with Kemp and photos of the former President and First lady up close. This was momentous in my view.
Working on the campaign and my support of Judge Karlin began my personal friendship with Judge Joyce Karlin and Bill Fahey, now a judge. I would housesit for them in their home in Manhattan Beach. I give all credit, as I do to my 6th grade teacher to Judge Karlin for getting me so actively involved in campaigns. Had it not been for her, I doubt I would of ever worked on any campaigns.
During my time at the campaign, I made some local news, as my car was vandalized and it was attributed to my letter of support I gave to Patricia Moore at the courthouse that one day. Being naïve at the time, I left my home address on the letter. Because I was a campaign worker for Bill Fahey and he was the husband of Judge Karlin, it made the news and various newpapers in the area. From that incident, I became a more aware and alert individual.
Well, Bill lost his bid for Congress, but I didn’t lose my desire to continue working on campaigns. I met a woman named Gordana Swanson who was running for LA County Supervisor. I decided I wanted to work on her campaign. I learned more about local politics at that time.
During Gordana Swanson’s campaign, I also volunteered on the campaign of Jay Kim for Congress in the 41st District. He eventually won his election, making history as the first Korean elected to Congress.
I realized that all three of the campaigns I worked on were for Republicans. I considered myself a Republican at the time.
Because my family being staunch democrats and my taking on the views of a Republican, it often created some soul searching for me. As I began studying the platforms of the Republican party more in depth, I found that I couldn’t agree with many of the social issues. I found myself at odds also with the fiscal, federal and foreign views of the democratic party. This left me in the middle.
It is during this time, I considered myself to be an independent voter. I supported the democrats on social issues, but supported the republicans on all other issues. Today, I might even consider myself a centrist or moderate republican.
So from my 6th grade teacher to a judge who was targeted for recall, these two ladies sparked a young boy and young man into the world of politics, elections and government.
I have found myself at odds many times with candidates and who I should vote for. However, I will always be grateful for the influence of two strong women who encouraged me to get involved and seek knowledge. How I wish everyone had the same strong desire and interest to be involved in any role in elections, politics and service to our community. This will always be a life long passion of mine.
In 2008, we saw the election of the first minority for President. That election showed how far our country and people have come in the past 40 plus years with the issue of race. It was a proud moment in my lifetime to be a witness of.
Through the course of my lifetime, I have always been fascinated, intrigued and excited about government, history and politics. This started in the 6th grade when my teacher Ms. Carol Sparks at Los Serranos Elementary School spoke on the election of Ronald Reagan for President and taught us about Presidents. I recall profoundly her words that day “when you are older you will get to vote one day and when you do vote, you have to understand what is important to you” That lesson sparked a immediate reaction in me about politics and began my lifelong qwest for constant knowledge and participate in politics, elections and government.
There was a young girl named Samantha Smith who wrote a letter to the President of Russia. She received a reply. I remember thinking “if she can write to the President of Russia and get a reply, I can write to my President and get a reply”. So I did. President Ronald Reagan, well someone in his correspondence office, received my simple letter and found it important enough to respond to a young 12 year boy in California. I recall receiving that letter in the mail and how excited I was! I then began writing letters for the next 6 years to everyone in government- from the vice –presidents, first lady, governors of every state, senators, congressmen, mayors, judges and so many others. 90% of the time I received a reply, some I even wrote more than once and the letters in return came with more personal responses.
In the 10th grade, I had a government teacher named Ms. Foster. One day I decided to share with her all my letters and photos I’ve received over the years from various elected officials. She was fascinated and excited to know of a student who took so much joy in government. She asked to keep my binder of letters and photos for a few days to share with all her classes and students. I felt proud.
When I turned 18 and able to vote, there was no Presidental election I could vote in. I did proudly vote for the next 4 years in state and local elections.
I moved to Washington D.C in 1990, wow, how exciting that was to be in center of nations government. I was fascinated and I remember walking from my home in Capital Hill to the Capital one day, passing the Supreme Court and doing a tour. I remember the first time I saw the White House in person, I was overwhelmed. That short time I lived in Washington D.C, I felt I embodied the spirit of politics. I was there during the parade welcoming home our troops from the first Gulf War. It was a very patriotic feeling.
When I returned in late 1991 to California, I immediately had the urge, the prompting, to get involved in elections. There was a news story happening in regards to a L.A. Judge whose sentence sparked protests. I was interested in this story, I don’t know what prompted me, but I felt that the Judge was being targeted unfairly. I decided to call the judge’s chambers and voice my support for her. I left a message with her court clerk. I then decided to write a letter of support to the Judge. She received my letter and sent a reply of thanks and also invited me to meet with her at any time. At this same time, the vocal leader in the protests against the judge was holding rallies at the courthouse. I felt there was too much rhetoric, hate and vicious things being said by her. I decided to write her a letter calling her protest campaign narrow minded and race related without looking at the facts of the case. I decided, maybe too innocently; to hand deliver this letter to her at one of her rallies. I went to the Compton Courthouse and before the start of the rally, walked up to City Councilwoman Patrica Moore and handed her my letter. I recall vividly her facial reactions, at first she assumed I was there to support her and the rally and she smiled at me then she opened the letter and when she realized it was not in support of her, her expression to me was one of disregard and she brushed me off, handing my letter to her assistant. I then proceeded to the courthouse and went up to the floor of the chambers of Judge Joyce Karlin to meet with her. In talking with her, I found out that her husband was running for Congress. I wanted to work on his campaign!! She gave me his campaign directors name and number and told me she would let her husband know I would be in touch and willing to help. She also invited me to any of her fundraisers, as she was facing a recall vote.
I didn’t consider myself at the time a democrat or republican. In fact, I honestly didn’t understand the platforms for each party at the time.
I contacted Bill Fahey’s office to offer my services on his campaign. He accepted my help. This started my various campaign involvements. I saw the inner workings of a campaign.
Bill Fahey was a republican candidate for Congress. One of his primary opponents was Maureen Reagan, former President Ronald Reagans daughter. At one point, her campaign was holding a picnic fundraiser where her father and former first lady Nancy Reagan and Jack Kemp, the Secretary of Housing and former Congressman would be in attendance. I decided I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. I went to her fundraiser and was able to get a picture with Kemp and photos of the former President and First lady up close. This was momentous in my view.
Working on the campaign and my support of Judge Karlin began my personal friendship with Judge Joyce Karlin and Bill Fahey, now a judge. I would housesit for them in their home in Manhattan Beach. I give all credit, as I do to my 6th grade teacher to Judge Karlin for getting me so actively involved in campaigns. Had it not been for her, I doubt I would of ever worked on any campaigns.
During my time at the campaign, I made some local news, as my car was vandalized and it was attributed to my letter of support I gave to Patricia Moore at the courthouse that one day. Being naïve at the time, I left my home address on the letter. Because I was a campaign worker for Bill Fahey and he was the husband of Judge Karlin, it made the news and various newpapers in the area. From that incident, I became a more aware and alert individual.
Well, Bill lost his bid for Congress, but I didn’t lose my desire to continue working on campaigns. I met a woman named Gordana Swanson who was running for LA County Supervisor. I decided I wanted to work on her campaign. I learned more about local politics at that time.
During Gordana Swanson’s campaign, I also volunteered on the campaign of Jay Kim for Congress in the 41st District. He eventually won his election, making history as the first Korean elected to Congress.
I realized that all three of the campaigns I worked on were for Republicans. I considered myself a Republican at the time.
Because my family being staunch democrats and my taking on the views of a Republican, it often created some soul searching for me. As I began studying the platforms of the Republican party more in depth, I found that I couldn’t agree with many of the social issues. I found myself at odds also with the fiscal, federal and foreign views of the democratic party. This left me in the middle.
It is during this time, I considered myself to be an independent voter. I supported the democrats on social issues, but supported the republicans on all other issues. Today, I might even consider myself a centrist or moderate republican.
So from my 6th grade teacher to a judge who was targeted for recall, these two ladies sparked a young boy and young man into the world of politics, elections and government.
I have found myself at odds many times with candidates and who I should vote for. However, I will always be grateful for the influence of two strong women who encouraged me to get involved and seek knowledge. How I wish everyone had the same strong desire and interest to be involved in any role in elections, politics and service to our community. This will always be a life long passion of mine.
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