I just voted, about twenty minutes ago, for Bush. This is the fifth presidential election I've voted in. I started out a registered Republican (mostly because of my parents), and became a Democrat after I graduated. I agree with the earlier post. It's easy to be a Democrat when you have nothing, and feel like someone should be helping you. And, if you are rich you feel guilty about having so much (Hollywood, etc.), so you feel like you need to help everyone, when actually the best way to help people is not with a handout, but by teaching them to be self-sufficient. When I started my own business, and started paying real taxes, I became more conservative. I was tired of working so hard, and having the government take so much in taxes (to pay for programs for people who didn't pay income taxes). There was less incentive to expand my business. I knew a couple that consisted of a vet and a pharmacist. The pharmacist quit her job, because it wasn't worth it since they got tossed in a higher tax bracket. That's not the way to increase a country's productivity. So I guess taxes are my hot button issue. And my experience has been that national Democrats always are for higher taxes and bigger government. And the last twenty years they seem to have gotten themselves stuck in this quagmire of "buying votes" by maintaining and increasing aid from the government for certain people. If you were receiving support from the government, whould you want to elect the representatives of that party that pushed those programs, or their opponents? On social issues, I'm much more liberal. I'm in favor of stem cell research, etc. In other words, I'm not some crazy fundamentalist right winger. But that's the problem with a two party system. You can't pick and choose your issues. I know the war is a big issue with some. People are trying to scare you into thinking they are going to instill a draft. That is not going to happen. There is too much differing opinion that it would be political suicide that would destroy whichever party proposed it. This isn't Vietnam, where at the beginning there was much more public support. And after hearing from Bin Laden the other day, it is obvious that he would prefer Kerry to win. That pretty much clenched it for me. Obviously Bush's efforts have had some effect. In this dangerous world, it is very important to realize that it is necessary to send a clear message. I'm not in favor of war. But if we keep backing down when it comes to terrorism (like Clinton did so many times during his presidency (that's another reason why I switched parties)), they are only going to think that they can take it to the next level (9/11). Everyone wants their freedom. They just don't want to think about how we keep it. I have friends in the military. If you knew how many times we have come close to a major catastrophe, you would be just as supportive of our soldiers as I am today. Let's face it, if a terrorist wants to hurt this country, he/she will be able to if they try hard enough. Appeasement is not the route go. Remember Hitler. Remember how far he got before the rest of Europe woke up and realized that he might be coming for them. I Hope I didn't ruffle too many feathers. These are just my opinions and observations over the last thirty something years and it will be deleted by tommorrow! I really don't feel like arguing, so if you have different opinions, just post your views and let's leave it at that. Hey, you said be passionate!
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