Early Voting!

It's so interesting to listen to naturalized citizens extol the virtues of the United States. A place where people have a real chance to live out and live up to, the American dream. Why is it that we who were born here don't see that?

I've heard enough immigrants, both rich and not so, tell the same story. I'm sure there are plenty who have gotten a raw deal as well. But they come, believing, I guess, that there's a better chance here than wherever "there" is.

So why is it that we nice, white middle class folks don't appreciate our own country? Hell, most of the folks I know, including myself, have spent most of our adult lives feeling like we need to make excuses for it.

So, once again we get to live out the American dream and vote- today, tomorrow, or on November 4th-just VOTE! I have not voted for a winner in a while but I'm hoping the vote I cast today will be one of those which elects Barak Obama.

Early voting has begun and runs through Friday the 31st. If you're going to be out of town on election day please vote early. And regardless of who your candidate is-Live the American dream and VOTE!


And if you need any more prompting:

15th Amendment (Feb 3, 1870)

Sect. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

or this:

19th Amendment (August 18, 1920)

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

or this:

24th Amendment (August 27, 1962)

Sect. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

The vote, as much as I take it for granted, has truly not come easy. To paraphrase - A vote is a terrible thing to waste.