Election Year

Generally I try to use this blog to voice my opinions without getting overly controversial.  I try to stay away from political or religious heavy topics, and just touch lightly on the subjects from how I view them in the context of personal experiences.  But I think for just a moment, I'm going to make an exception.  It is an election year after all, and it's hard to have much else on your mind with the election itself only two weeks away.

There's a lot to be said about each candidate and honestly, none of it matters to me.  Republican vs. Democrat has become such an embarrassment for us as a country and we hold a very Libertarian household.  What is a Libertarian you might ask?  A friend once said it best, "It means you want the government to get the hell out of your life."  Simple as that and yet not simple at all.

I'm tired of the country handing us two candidates, both owned by the political party they embrace, backed by dirty money that expects their agenda to be followed pending election, and giving us the illusion that any of it is OUR CHOICE.  That's just BS.

We live in a complex world that will never be anywhere near perfect.  Without a doubt, I believe it will continue to get worse before it gets any better, as a whole.  I will be voting and I can guarantee that I will not participate in the process of elected dictatorship.  What has happened to liberty and democracy?

I think I grew up in a Republican household.  I say I think because my dad never said a word about it and my mom never declared it but always planted Republican ideals in my mind.  This was not apparent through her love of Republicans so much as her distaste for Democrats.  I don't know if I have a core rebellious nature or common sense just kicked in early, but even at the most basic level I knew I was just a little bit more Democrat, even though the social ideals of my religion seemed to coordinate with the Republican agenda.  As a grew older I realized I couldn't side with either one completely.  That's when things started to get weird, because Americans seemed so passionate about their party affiliation and I could not find a way in my mind to agree with one side completely.  It just seemed like everyone had something to bring to the table just the same as they had skeletons in their closets.  Imagine my surprise when I learned about more than two parties!

Our system is corrupt even at the most basic level.  Our country is in crisis a every turn, many of which I have felt the effects very personally.  It just seems that if we continue choosing between two forms of poison, or the lesser of two evils as most say, then we are still hurting ourselves.  It's time for real change.  If we don't vote our conscience now, we never will.  Fact: whomever I vote for will not be the next president, but that doesn't change my mind.  America needs to know that we have options, real options, and I will vote for any third party who will help us get to that point.  There will never be any change if we don't demand it.