I’m making mine count

In recent years, I have become quite apolitical and cynical. I have felt that there was not much difference between the two major parties and had resorted to supporting third-party candidates for president. Now, after being introduced to Sarah Palin, I realize that the stakes are much too high to squander my vote in a protest.

I generally think it good for politicians to believe in God. However, Ms. Palin states that we are doing God’s task in the Iraq war. That scares the heaven out of me. I get nervous when leaders claim that they are doing God’s will, especially when they are using that to justify a war that was promoted using lies and manipulated intelligence. And if an American such as myself dislikes that talk, consider the response of Arabs, who do not view the crusades as distant history.

Palin’s views are not conservative; they are extremist. While most rational Americans would agree that abortions are an undesirable thing, they would certainly allow some provisions for cases of rape or incest. Ms. Palin would not. She is also a staunch advocate of abstinence-only sex education, even though she should be able to see that is ineffective. And her education policies would take us back several hundred years when she makes creationism required study.

I have watched in dismay for eight years as the Constitution has been eroded by the Bush administration. I have seen how corporate interests have guided policy. The prospects of the continuing decline of this great nation by the oligarchy that run the Republican Party convinced me that I must vote for Obama and Biden.

—  Richard Mills
Leicester

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Webmaster
Mountain Xpress Webmaster Follow me @MXWebTeam

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

5 thoughts on “I’m making mine count

  1. Asheville Native

    Yep, she’s scary, which makes McCain scary. What the hell was his team thinking when they picked her?

  2. cwaster

    “she should be able to see that is ineffective”

    Pretty obvious, look at her family.
    I’m with Richard.

  3. Dionysis

    Fortunately, as the well-packaged presentation of Palin wears off and she begins to receive real scrutiny, her poll numbers are dropping like a stone in water. Each day, more and more lies are uncovered, her lack of basic knowledge of foreign and domestic affairs is underscored and her eerie similarities (in both substance and style) to the Bush administration becomes clear.

    McSame’s pick of this extremist kook was an incredibly shallow and calculated gamble, probably forced upon him by the lunatic ‘base’ of the Republicon Party (insiders say McSame really wanted Lieberman).

    The majority of voters are beginning to understand what this vacuous, extremist woman is all about, and are recoiling from her.

  4. entopticon

    “Palin’s views are not conservative; they are extremist.”

    Exactly. There is little conservative about Sarah Palin. When Sarah Palin became mayor of the town of Wasilla, which only had approximately 5,000 people at that time, the town had no debt. She left them $22 million in debt. She is George Bush in lipstick.

    For point of reference, the 2006 census for Buncombe county was 222,174 people, which is approximately 44 times the population of Wasilla at the time Palin was mayor.

    As Governor of Alaska, Palin took in more than twice the earmark pork per capita of any other state. At $555.54 per capita, they took in approximately 22 times as much as Obama’s state, Illinois, which received only 25.47 per capita.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.