As I write this, MSNBC (link not provided because they aren’t a real news source) has already handed electoral votes over to Obama. Fox News, on the other hand, has merely given the current percentages with the percentage of precincts reporting. Personally, I love seeing the press being proven wrong, which is why I cherish the 2000 Presidential election so much.
I arrived at the polls at 8:30, this morning. I quickly got my ballot and sat down for a thorough reading and marking. After fifteen minutes, I fed it through the machine and headed off to work. It was effortless. 
This was the fourth presidential election I’ve voted in thus far. The first, a race between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole, I voted absentee ballot. The second was between George W. Bush and Al Gore, I voted downstate in a rural community. There were lines, but they weren’t that long. The third was between George W. Bush and John Kerry. That was a nightmare. I arrived at the polls about a half hour before voting started. An hour and a half later, I finally voted. There were a lot of people there, but the great city of Neenah, Wisconsin was, I feel, completely unprepared. Today, between John McCain, Barrack Obama, and I’d like to add Ralph Nader to this list, I walked in, checked in, voted, and walked out. The process was painless and took about as long as it took for me to fill out an absentee ballot. Well, maybe it took a little longer because I read through everything so carefully, including the proposals.
I am proud to say that this is the most split ticket ballot I’ve ever submitted. There were several Republicans, several Libertarians, and a Democrat who I’ve known to be of good character through a mutual friend. The rest really weren’t choices. I just filled in the bubbles for people with no opponent.
The proposals were interesting, and I felt the list was quite short compared to elections past. This is quite sad since I consider proposal voting a true democracy. I cherish the opportunity to vote on these. The proposals were:
• 1 – the one I refer to as “pot”
• 2 – the one I refer to as “no”
• 3 – Franklin Township wanted money for the fire department. Of course!
• 4 – Franklin Township wanted money for roads. This was a difficult decision, but I reluctantly voted yes.
Most importantly, I am ecstatic it’s over!!! I fear the new direction our country will take, as I believe Obama will take it. I firmly disagree with him on many issues, and I feel the Democrats, in general, have chosen to fight noble issues with decisions that are either ineffective, because they’re like aiming a fire extinguisher at the flames instead of the source of a fire, or expensive, because a Democrat solution to supposed funding issues is raising taxes, no matter how much they promise they won’t do it. I do not believe Republicans are innocent, but I do firmly and fearfully believe in the traditional Republican belief of smaller government.
There is so much waste in our system that has been promoted by Democrats and Republicans alike. I’d like to see real change, but they seem to only propose [non]solutions to problems that seem logical to the average person, but really only do harm in a different way, or exacerbate the current problem.
Either way, whoever wins, let us all hope it is for the best.
Wow. I tend not to push the political issue just because I don’t want to spark a debate. You did very well in the way you said everything here. I agree with the direction….I am nervous and curious at the same time as to what will happen. Lets keep our fingers crossed.
You doing Iceman?
The only real fix is a revolt. I am not good at being politically correct. When crime increases, and the new leftist government fails to address the real cause, we are in for the new dark ages.
Look up the “Long Emergency” article from the Rolling Stone Magazine.
http://www.boingboing.net/2005/04/13/peak-oil-article-in-.html
or
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7203633/the_long_emergency
Obama is that new smooth talking fascist leader rising up to appeal to the angry, hungry and soon to be cold.
Remember what Benjamin Franklin said about such “rulers”.
I have considered what I would do in the event of socializing the US, or converting to some other form of government. I would not have an issue with leaving when pushed. Although they are few, there are other countries that would make a perfectly acceptable alternative.
Currently, I am hanging onto the hope that living in the Keweenaw is enough to separate me from the rest of the world. It’s like living in a bubble. I’d like to stay in my bubble.