In the upcoming elections I know very well what I am voting against but haven't

yet come up with what to vote for..and that just plain sucks....

;)

.

Look at it this way: I will never feel 100% represented by anyone in government, and I have come to accept that because I have also come to recognize that I am considerably to the left of most of America. In the name of democracy, I know my voice will never be the majority voice, and I have come to accept that as long as my minority voice is protected as it should be in the Constitution.

Why?

Because the President is representing America, not just myself. Sure, I'd love to be perfectly and personally represented but I don't necessarily expect to. Low expectations or reality?

Along these lines, I often find myself voting against something, and I have come to the conclusion that it is not a bad thing, despite what the media on the right tell us - like they so strongly did in 2004. They said we were voting "against Bush" and that we have no stance. Well, it's not so simple - I have a stance, and I did like Kerry and felt strongly about him, but I was also voting against Bush without shame.

Why?

There are many times when it is appropriate to vote against someone. I would gladly vote against someone who was diametrically opposed to what I believe in, such as someone who wanted to institutionalize religion or who wanted to reinforce class divisions - in other words, any of the Republicans right now.

In short, in my opinion, all of the Democrats are far more attractive to me as a representative of America than the Republicans who want to continue to divide America - rich vs. poor, Christian vs. non-Christian, so-called "moral voters" versus the rest of us, etc.

I will gladly vote against the Republicans. Anyone who says there is no difference has either not been paying attention the past 7 years or they are lying.

And, after 40 years of doing so, my nose has become very tender and rebels when facing more punishment.

Fortunately, my ballot has a line to write in names that require no, or little, pain infliction on the nose.