Election Day

It is not easy to find information on the lesser known elections, such as judges and conservation district supervisors. Eric finally found our ballot online, and then I proceeded to look up as much information as I could on the people I knew nothing about. I have found it so difficult this election season to find information on anybody who isn't running for congress, either state or national (or president). I want to be an informed voter, but it isn't easy! I have found some information, but I still think I am going to have a hard time knowing who to vote for when it comes time to cast my vote. I might reserve my right not to vote for certain candidates who I know nothing about. I know it is important to vote, but it is just as important to know for who/what you are voting, otherwise you might end up making things worse, not better. What do people think about the not voting option? Obviously, I am voting for the "important" or more accurately well-known offices, but for the smaller ones, is it better to vote for someone you don't know anything about (even if you have tried to find information) or better to refrain from voting so as not to make the wrong choice? Either way, I am getting excited for election day and what it will bring--no matter who wins, I think things are going to be different in this country soon. Plus, elections are always exciting, it's a great time for our nation, to look back at where we started and why we made the decisions that we did. It feels good to be able to vote and participate in our country's democracy.

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've got to want it bad, because it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil who is standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the 'land of the free'? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the 'land of the free.'"