Electioneering

I have refrained from commenting on politics on the blog thus far, excepting Pops' race, which I consider as much a personal and family issue as a political one.  I started this blog to be about Jack; to update all our far-flung friends and family on what exciting things he was doing and to be like a multimedia baby book.

And I haven't wanted to write this, because I know several very loyal readers have views opposed to mine.  But I have recently come to understand writers who say they feel a compulsion to release words so that the words stop rattling around their heads.  I began writing this a month and a half ago, but since just starting to put my ideas on paper seemed to stop the nagging bad dreams I was having, I hadn't finished yet.  But the election's tomorrow, and it's a big election, so I feel obligated to attempt to persuade you/explain myself.

Like most of America, I was initially completely obsessed with Sarah Palin.  Only I went a bit overboard, searching out every article written about her for the first few days, I was not a particularly attentive mommy to Jack the day Palin was announced as VP pick; Jack's average weekly TV intake was more than quadrupled in that single day with CNN coverage, as I tried to figure out what to make of McCain's selection.  The feminist in me was both glad that a woman had been chosen and horrified at her version of politics.  

I haven't heard nearly as much about "values voting" in this election cycle as I've heard in past years.  Perhaps it's just because the polls show widespread ambivalence about McCain among the religious right combined with concern about Palin's qualifications.  Maybe, though I doubt it, we're at a more liberal church.  Maybe churches and other religious groups are scared of losing their tax exempt status for blurring the line between endorsement and education about issues.  Maybe one-issue pro-life voters are starting to realize  But regardless of the reason, I, for one, am thrilled that I don't have as many people telling me I'm a bad Catholic or a bad Christian or a bad person for voting for someone I think has a much better overall balance of moral values.  

I'm pro-life.  But abortion isn't the only pro-life issue.  Easy access to contraception is a pro-life issue.  War is a life issue.  Supporting pregnant women and supporting families is a life issue.  Social Justice is a life issue.  The death penalty, for Heaven's sake, is a life issue. 

But what I really support is the idea that every citizen should be able to have input into the government without outrageous effort and that every vote should be counted.  Tomorrow I'm working at the polls in Warrensburg as an election lawyer consulting with the Obama team, and based on the training I went through, I have a few tips to pass on to help you vote.

I really urge you to try to use a paper ballot; even without conspiracy theories, electronic voting machines that do not leave a paper trail have been found by official state investigations in both Florida and California to have a significant software problems.  I actually encountered a problem with a voting machine today (in early voting in St. Louis County, voters are for some bizarre reason not allowed to vote by paper ballot).  Paper ballot voting also goes much more quickly than electronic voting, which can help move long lines of voters through more quickly.  And second, if you run into any problems at polling places, call me (if you know my number) for help, or call 877-MO-CHANGE.  They've set up a very thorough hotline that can tell you where your polling place is and help notify proper officials if you run into any voting problems.  The number is specifically for Missouri, but I'm sure they can refer you to other states' hotlines if asked.

Tomorrow night (or more likely Wednesday night) I'll post with results of Pops' race and election day pictures.  Hooray for voting!