Election Day

In a few short days, Americans will decide who leads our nation. Many positions are at stake, from the local level to the highest position in our government. From the beginning of the election campaign for their party's nomination right up to the day the ballots are cast, candidates put forth their assessment of our situation, their plans, their opinion as to why they will do a better job than their opponent, and, perhaps, reveal a skeleton or two in their opponent's closet. They spend a good deal of time and money to get a position of power that generally doesn't pay a salary that would cover the cost of the campaign.

Soon, it will be time for the citizen to have his or her say. Some people say that your vote doesn't count. Some people say that it doesn't matter how the vote is cast, only how the votes are counted. My opinion on voting is that it may not matter as to which candidate is elected if my ballot is cast or counted, but it matters to me that I took the time to do what I consider my duty as a citizen. We vote by secret ballot for the candidate of our choice, so no one really knows for sure whom we voted for. If we do not vote, we cannot affect the outcome of the election. A candidate can win by one vote.

No candidate is perfect; they are all human with "feet of clay." They are not omnipotent, either personally or in the position that they are seeking. Most of them will try to fulfill the promises that they made along the campaign trail, but, the reality is that they won't be able to fulfill every one of them. Our system as checks and balances that prevents a person from doing as they will without the consent of others, and rightly so. Also, our situation can change drastically in an instant and the candidate who is elected may be called upon to deal with a circumstance that buries what he had planned under what must be done.

The important thing is that we have the right to choose who sits in these positions of power. We retain the right to disagree with the elected and we can replace them in the next election. But, in my opinion, if you did not cast a ballot one way or the other, you really have little reason to gripe about the leadership you got stuck with.