Get off the fence…then get out of my yard!

The unthinkable has happened…I've left my “neutral” status in the political race and cast my vote! After a mile and a half walk to the polling station and a two hour wait, I registered and voted my conscious. I’d tried to vote twice earlier in the week but the lines were so long and I (mistakenly) thought they would be shorter on Halloween only to discover the lines were constant no matter the time or day. This election has brought out many new voters and the previously apathetic (myself included) because the stakes are so high and the future of our country depends on the outcome.

This election is about more than the presidency…it is about shaping the future of the Supreme Court which will have greater impact long-term than the next President. Essentially, the balance of power will shift through the next appointments to the courts so America is deciding now if they want greater or less restrictions on personal freedom. The sides are clearly defined and each has their own agenda which leaves those of us in the middle with an interesting dilemma…which of my rights am I willing to sacrifice to ensure that other rights are retained? It’s a serious choice but it’s also indicative of the lack of true choices in our current political theater.

One of my major complaints about the current two party system is it doesn’t offer enough alternatives for the moderates. The Democratic Party has moved to the extreme left while the Republican Party has been hi-jacked by the ultra-conservative, religious wing nuts leaving no middle ground for the moderate, common sense American. It’s this extreme division that opens the door to a third party I’d like to call the “Common Sense” party…a place where all the moderates could go and elect other moderates who are strong enough to vote their conscious and not purely down political lines.

A great example of a once possible Common Sense Party candidate is John McCain…he was NOT a favorite of the conservatives and many outright refused to endorse him because he dared to employ common sense in some of his views. In order to secure a base, he abandoned his views and adopted the ultra-right wing views to secure the nomination. He also chose Palin as an obvious attempt to placate this group and garner their support knowing full well she was a ridiculous choice and totally unqualified for the role. He sacrificed his credibility, integrity and ultimately his chance to become President because he chose the extreme side of his party’s politics.

I’m also aware that Barack represents the extreme left view of the Democratic Party so not giving him a free pass. He will, however, be much more likely to strike a compromising position than McCain would if elected as the Democratic Party has a large base that is moderate. The Republican Party has less room for moderates and this idea is reinforced with the talk that Palin is the perfect choice for 2012 if McCain fails to win on Tuesday.

Regardless of which candidate you support for office, it’s critical to get out and vote in this election as much more than the highest office is at stake. If the lines are long, don’t complain as two hours in line every four years is a small price to pay for the freedoms you and I every single day. So get off the fence and vote your conscious!