Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Venomous

The title of this post is basically how I feel about this election season.  Venomous.  Democrats and Republicans are at each others throats in the most hypocritical of ways.  I saw this tweet under the hashtag #vote on twitter.

I'm trying so hard to not get offended by everything that is posted about this election but it's so difficult.  What makes me angry about this post, isn't the fact that they think that President Obama should win.  It's the blatant racism.  The thing is, every person that is Caucasian and voting for Romney are being accused of being racist.  Why is it a difficult concept to grasp, that a majority of Caucasian voters are voting for Romney NOT because of the color of his skin, but because his vision for American lines up better with their beliefs, and that if Romney were brown skinned, he would still get their vote because of his belief system?  Is that so difficult to believe?

Furthermore.  STOP ASSUMING THAT YOU ARE THE SMART ONE BECAUSE YOU ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA!!!!!!!!!! Sigh.  That boils my blood.  There are very intelligent reasons to vote for Romney, none of which have to do with the color of Obama's skin.  I feel it's necessary for me to state that the following are MY opinions and I am not trying to sway you to think like me, the point of this is to SCREAM OUT! SHOUT OUT! that I am not casting my vote without having evaluated what I believe to be truth.  I encourage you to do the same.  Even if you think I am wrong.  I don't care.  I think you are wrong too (insert winky smiley).  The whole point of this is to say I am not a "dumb racist white woman."

Let's start with the economy: Obama has run up the debt $5 TRILLION! T R I L L I O N! The argument could definitely be put up that he inherited that.  WHO CARES!?  The fact remains that he didn't stop the debt from climbing... He didn't decrease it even by a penny.  NO, it went up.  It is still difficult to get a job.  Gas prices are soaring and getting higher all the time.  I can't vote for the man who promised "Change" and didn't deliver.

Let's move onto Foreign policy.  Libya.  I won't even say anymore.  Democrats can't argue that one away.  The explanation has shifted on that topic so many times.  We have been lied to and deceived, and without going into detail, we have all heard enough about it in the past month.  I am not a blind follower.  That aside, Israel is being shuffled to the side and being treated like the friend we don't want but have to keep for appearance sake.  Israel needs priority and needs America to be a true friend.  Egypt doesn't need to be told they aren't our friend.  I don't pretend to know a lot about foreign policy, but in real life, if I tell someone they aren't my friend... when they weren't my enemy... I don't see that going over very well for me.  Just saying.  President Obama hasn't shown me that he cares about our allies as much as he cares about not offending our enemies.

Healthcare.  I don't like "Obama Care."  I am not convinced it is the solution that we need.  Everyone sees it as free healthcare for all.  No, that is not what this is.  This is a requirement for everyone to have a healthcare insurance plan by threat of a fine penalty if they don't.  That is money out of my pocket one way or another.  This is a requirement for businesses to provide their employees with a healthcare insurance plan by threat of a fine penalty if they don't.  Guess what?  A lot of companies will take the penalty before shelling out the the money to provide the employees with that insurance plan.  I promise you that will happen. I will not let my vote support this.

Now onto some social issues.  Same Sex Marriage.  This is where I differ from a lot of Christians and Republicans.  America is known as "the land of the free" and we can't afford to be hypocritical on that.  EVERYONE deserves equal rights, even if their choices aren't choices that the majority of people would make.  Take this snippet from The Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  There were not a list of exceptions to that.  We are all created by God and because of that, EVERYONE is entitled to unalienable rights (Not to be separated, given away, or taken away - the free dictionary).  The fact that this is even something that is being argued about baffles me.  Obama has shifted his position on this issue.  He came out saying he supports the traditional definition of marriage, but today, I believe he is saying he believes that marriage should be allowed between same-sex couples.  The fact that he has changed his view, which is allowable, I change my mind about things a lot, but it suggests to me that this isn't a priority issue for him.  To put your vote toward someone because of this issue might end in disappointment.  As sad as I find it that we claim to be a free nation yet keep freedoms from citizens, I can't put my vote to either candidate based on this issue.

Women's rights.  I do not like that women can kill a baby and consider it their right as a woman to do with their body what they want.  This is the way I see it; it is not only your body at that point!  That is a life!  That is a soul!  That is a future that is being snuffed out.  I can only wrap my mind around one excuse for abortion, and that is if the baby and mother will, in high probability and certainty, die if the pregnancy continues.  With that being my stand on abortion, I am not oblivious to the fact that some pregnancies happen through rape.  In that situation it is easy for me, a person who has never been in the position to carry a child in my belly that came about by such violence and violation, to say that adoption would be the ideal solution.  I can only imagine a fraction of the emotional turmoil that would come from a 9 month reminder of such a traumatic event.  The way I see it, though, is that life is still a life that didn't choose to be brought into this situation and I can't see the justice in destroying that life because of the evil that a man did.  I will concede that because I haven't been in that situation, I can't accurately say what I would or wouldn't do, but it is my natural inclination to preserve life.  Abortion aside, Women should definitely have access to contraception.  Birth control of all types should be readily available.  Preventing pregnancy is the only real way to prevent abortion, in my mind. In this situation, NEITHER candidate lines up with my beliefs on this issue, so I can't base my vote on this issue.  I don't think that makes me dumb.

These are clearly not all of the issues, but these are the ones that stand out to me.  Notice how race wasn't even a factor in all of that.  Open your eyes people!  Vote with your conscience, not your emotions.  Don't be bullied into a vote.  Know what you believe.  Find the person that fits best.  If that's President Obama, I may disagree, but vote for him.  This isn't about white vs. black.  This isn't about dumb or smart.  This is about voting with the best interest of America as a nation.  This about our future.  Let's stop the cat fights.  Let's stop the ridiculous assumptions.  The person voting for Obama isn't any better than the person voting for Romney.

I understand that I likely wrote all of this out for no reason.  Nobody is going to listen to an obscure blogger.  Nobody is going to realize that the hate they claim is represented by others is coming out of their mouth too.  Nobody is going to realize that the racism that they claim is represented by others is being represented by them too.  This election season is eating at the very core of me and making my heart heavy.  I can't believe that we have come to this.  Disagreement doesn't have to mean hate, unless you allow it to.

Vote.  Know what you believe and Vote. 

(Reply Rules:  Any hateful replies will be ignored and possibly deleted.  Mature discussion with opposing view points is welcome.  Any hateful replies that demean democrats or republicans will be deleted since the sole purpose of this was to point out how ridiculous that is.  Please be mature.  Please be respectful.  Thank you.)




5 comments:

  1. Well said for someone who doesn't consider herself well versed.

    If a person votes based on the color of one's melanin and not on the content of his or her character than that, by definition, makes that person a racist.

    This election season has been a very contentious time. It is extremely soul vexing.

    I encourage everyone to vote on two things; 1). The facts. That means do your homework (sounds like you have). While we all love the zingers (not the mean ones), and the one-liners; they are not policy. 2) Convictions. Know what you believe and choose wisely.

    OK enough. I won't blog on your blog. ;)
    Lily-thinking thoughts

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    1. Thank you Lillian. I agree, and feel free to blog on my blog anytime. I respect your opinion.

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  2. Well said, Amy. I can respect people with different opinions and I agree that everybody should go and make use of their civic duty: cast a vote! A vote based on two things: the facts and your personal beliefs. Only if we can get people out to vote will there be a true representation of the people.

    I am curious about your (ideal) solution for the healthcare system of this country though, if you don't think an individual mandate is the solution. Should the tax payers keep paying for the uninsured, who end up in the ER with conditions that could have been treated much more efficiently and inexpensively at a PCP office? Why is it not ok for people to be required to have health insurance, if you can bet on the fact that EVERYBODY is going to need care at some point in their life? (Consider yourself lucky if you don't get anything serious!).
    I get the argument of "personal responsibility" that so many people like to quote, but my point is this: if you choose not to have health insurance (mostly people who just say they can't afford it) and you get sick,it's not like you won't be treated since you opted out of insurance). You'll still be treated and not left to die on the street. But guess who is paying for this then: all of us! And it's going to be much more expensive than it could be.

    Coming from a country with universal healthcare, it is mind-boggling to me that a first world country like the US don't have a universal system in place, which would be much more efficient and cost-effective.

    I have very passionate feelings about the social issues and therefore I see only one choice in this election. What I don't appreciate is when the GOP talks about smaller government, but gets all up into a woman's business. I respect your personal opinion about abortion and I think everybody is entitled to have their own opinion, but government shouldn't be allowed to force this decision on anyone. It should be a decision that is between a woman and her doctor. I don't believe any woman would make the decision to abort a child lightly. I think it will be- regardless of the circumstances - a traumatic experience that will stay with her for life and in most instances it will only be a last-resort kind of decision.
    I think the access to contraception and sexual education is, of course, the most important part in this equation to prevent unwanted pregnancies in the first place.
    If I say that I am "pro-choice", it does not equally mean that I am "pro-abortion". Nobody is FOR abortion, but I do recognize that I could never ever make a decision that is so personal for anybody else, and the government shouldn't be able to do this either.

    Just my 2 cents :)

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  3. Hey San. Thanks for your comment.

    I'll start with your question about health care. I'm a little confused about taxpayers paying for the uninsured hospital visits. Taxpayers pay for government programs like medicaid, but anytime I have gone to the ER for anything (it's been a LOOOOONG time), I have gotten a bill for it, and if I default on that bill I go to collections. Anyone who gives a lick about their credit rating will pay their bill. I don't really have a solution in mind, but I am not for Obama's offering. It hits the people who are on the edge the hardest. The people on the edge are the ones that can't qualify for medicaid, but aren't making enough to pay an insurance premium (which for us would be $620 a month with a $4,000 deductible - this in a relatively low cost of living city, is a lot)... I can't afford that right now. I'm trying so hard to get to a place where I can.

    Women's issues is a touchy subject. You said that majority of women don't take abortion lightly, but it has been my experience with a particular friend that has gotten abortions, she treated it like emergency birth control. It was disgusting. This friend had a couple of abortions just because she wasn't being careful. I found it ridiculous since at the time condoms were 50 cents at the gas station bathroom vending machine. I see and understand your point, but I can't agree completely. I agree that the government shouldn't make decisions for people, but murder is illegal. It's not okay for parents to abuse or murder their baby... so why is it okay to kill a baby while it is still in the womb? It's still a life. A heart is beating, organs are formed or are forming. Abortion should be something that is a case by case thing and something that is referred by a doctor. I would go as far to say that over half of the abortions performed in America are abortions of convenience. I can't say that is fact, but it has been my experience that women have gotten abortions because they just didn't want to be pregnant at that time. Adoption is a much better option. There are many women who can't conceive that would love to be a mother to that baby that is being discarded. That is my opinion on that.

    The social issues are important but the weight of my vote is based on the economy and the foreign policies. I believe our President promised much and delivered little on those two categories.

    I appreciate your response. I love to have thoughtful discussions. I think it's a good thing to be challenged in our beliefs.

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  4. Amy, I agree with SO much of what you have to say! This election and all the hatefulness being thrown around because of it frustrate me so badly. The racial issues involved are a huge source of that frustration. Some because I feel like some people are voting for Obama because of his skin color. And also because I believe that some people think I'm racist for not wanting to vote for the "black" president. Does that make me a hypocrite?! I hope not... and I want to emphasize the "some" in those statements.
    All in all, I feel like I am more informed about this election than any previous elections, and I wish that everyone would make an educated decision about who they vote for. I think this is a very crucial election for our country, and I pray we make the right choice.
    I will say this... one of the biggest reasons I will be voting as I will is because I believe that smaller government is what we need. Big government will continue to lead America down the road toward socialism, which is the road to destruction. That is a fact, proven in history time and time again.
    Thanks for sharing....

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I appreciate you taking the time to add your thoughts to this post!