I voted today.

Yep, sure did, voted for some Democrats, some Republicans, and a Green or two.

I recommend voting early, it's so easy, and very quick. It took us longer to find a place to park than it did to vote.

If the race were more contested in AR, I'd have asked for a paper ballot just to be thorough, but I used a touchscreen one instead.

The whole nation needs to switch to mail in ballots like Oregon. There is a paper trail for each ballot, and very little chance of machines messing it up, and the voter turnout is extraordinary. Plus, there is the added benefit of the race actually being over when polls close because the vast majority of the ballots will already have been counted. There is much less opportunity for cheating at the polling places, and much less opportunity for cheating all together. At least, that's my opinion.

WiredForStereo

Who Am I Voting For?

Oh, yes, it's the long awaited election post.

Now before I do this, I want to make a few thing perfectly and absolutely clear. First, I am not supporting any candidate. That's right, I don't have a horse in the race. My dog's not hunting. I am merely voting for one dude over the other. Second, I am not voting based on any sort of spurious parameter such as things like Obama's a Socialist (you know who you are) or McCain is a warmonger. This decision, finalized just this morning and still subject to reconsideration is made based on very finite and factual parameters.

Parameter number one: Taxes. John McCain's tax plan includes tax cuts for everyone, Obama's plan calls for tax increase for the top 20%, and cuts for everyone else. Under McCain's tax plan, the top .1% of tax payers would get a tax cut of $140,000, while the bottom 20% would get a cut of only $19. For the all important middle class, of which I am part, McCain would give me approximately $319 while Obama would give me $2136. Tax policy is an extremely important issue, and I will not vote for another person who gives the biggest tax cuts to the people with the most money. In fact, I'll not be voting to anyone who offers tax cuts to the wealthy. It is simply wrong to shoulder more of the burden on the people less able to carry it, that's Biblical.

Secondly, the economy. John McCain is by default, by his own words, against regulation. We all know what money will do when you let it loose, we've just seen that. Money only cares about money.

Lastly, I don't believe we should have a former soldier in charge of the military. That's like leaving a militant terrorist in a van full of dynamite in the middle of Manhattan. You're asking for trouble. Military men need to take orders, not be the ones watching over "the button."

I'd love to hear some feedback on this one. Remember, these arguments are based on pure factual information. Tax plans, regulatory opinions, and former soldierhood are not up for debate, these things are facts. Based on the the FACTS, I have made my decision.

WiredForStereo

Environmental Christians

Why do many Christians not believe in global warming? Not because they don't care. Most Christians believe wholeheartedly in the teaching that we are to be good stewards of the garden God has given us. They don't believe in global warming because the politicians they elect and believe to be believers tell them not to.

There is an unfortunate belief that Republicans are also Christians. This is in many cases just not so. Look at how many Republican politicians have fallen from grace. Look at how many pastors and evangelists have fallen from grace. Christians often will believe anything said by anyone claiming to be a Christian. The sad fact is that many of these people are simply "cultural Christians" or "holiday Christians." They merely use the right jargon and support the right things in order to court the vote of the huge Christian voter base.

Meanwhile, they support industries that pollute and destroy our garden while preventing other groups trying to make our garden a more hospitable sustainable place. It is extremely unfortunate that conservatives and those supporting Christian values also have abandoned the environmental efforts to those on the left side and continued living like the earth is expendable.

I believe in the imminent Second Coming of Christ, but just as Paul said that we should not continue sinning even though we are under grace, we should not continue wrecking our garden even though we know that one day it will all burn. Jesus said no man knows the day or the hour, and in that vein, we should treat our garden like we may have to live here for a while longer, whether or not we actually will.

I think in the process, we may even reach those on the left side who think we don't care about them or the environment, and then it will be a win-win for everybody.

For Christians who like green things, I'm
WiredForStereo