Rock the Vote

I’ve never been a very political person.  I don’t get into the arguing and slamming the other parties that many seem to enjoy so much.  When election time comes up I tend to just go with my gut feeling.  I hate to admit that I don’t research the parties or those running for office and I usually don’t even recognize some of the names on the ballot.  I don’t really call myself a Democrat or a Republican.  I tend to lean more on the Democratic side, mostly because my parents always did when I was growing up so I identify more with the Democratic ideologies.  My husband is very strongly Republican, so we don’t discuss politics much around our house.

I voted for only the second time in my life this morning.  I’ve legally been able to vote for 10 years now but I have not exercised that right.  I’m not sure why really.  I just wasn’t ever that interested.  My husband convinced me to vote for the last presidential election.  I didn’t feel like it really did any good because, well, look who’s in office.  My voice certainly wasn’t heard on that one.  I laugh at those people that say every vote counts.  Ha!  I have my own opinions about our system for electing the president and how the votes are actually tallied.

Putting all of that aside, I did vote this morning.  In Missouri, there were issues on the ballot that I felt it was necessary to vote for.  The biggest and most controversial issue (in my opinion) was for regulating stem cell research.  There was also a vote on raising the minimum wage and an additional tax on tobacco.  These are the issues that brought me out to the polls.  There were a couple of elected officials that I felt strongly about, but I mainly wanted to get my vote in on the three issues I mentioned.  I am proud of myself for getting out there and contributing my opinion.  Of course I’ll be disappointed if the vote goes the other way, but at least I tried.

If you haven’t voted, get out there and do it.  It made me feel good.  Hopefully it will do the same for you.