Oh my goodness. I do have a preference, but things are so very very close that it's driving me nuts. I just want to know. Even if it's not who I want, I'd like a clear winner. Everything's close and this proportional vote thing might be fair but it means that actually counting delegates is hard (even though the tv is trying). Precise numbers are needed to really count. I'm glad to see that the main division in the dems is a generational divide and not a racial one and I hope that continues to be true tomorrow and into the future. I hope that the dems continue to hang together and this doesn't turn bitter or abrasive in a way that splits the party. I'm hopeful because everyone I've spoken to seems to be talking about how tough it was to pick. Because they all were good.
The one good thing is that the republicans seem to be still hashing it out too. I wonder if a McCain/Huckabee ticket would crash and burn or would reunite the republican party.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
National Blog for Choice Day
As seen at Rev Dr. Mom's. I saw an article in the local paper yesterday reviewing the demographics associated with abortion *and they estimate that 1/3 of all women have had an abortion at some point. 1/3! Wow! The point of the article was actually abortion as a race-based civil rights issue (which seems to have merit) but I couldn't get past 1/3 of all women have had an abortion (and most were over age 25 when it happened). As a personal choice, abortion is so far beyond what I can fathom as a personal choice that it seems crazy to me to think that if I'm sitting in a car full of women, 1 or 2 of the other 5 women has likely had an abortion. If a friend came to me and asked for counsel on this topic, I would mostly encourage her to seek information on adoption. Having walked with friends down a path of serious disability associated with the fetus, I would say that carrying to term can be a blessing despite what one might think.
Nonetheless, I recognize that the reasons why abortion is beyond me have much to do with the sort of environment and economic class and support system available to me. What if I didn't have the job security that I have? What if I didn't have the family support that I have? What if I didn't have health care? What if I was functioning in an abusive environment? What if I was still in school and having a child would limit/eliminate the educational opportunities available to me? What if I didn't think I could raise a child well in the world I was living in? What if I didn't know enough to navigate the options of adoption? What if I was certain that my child would be born with a debilitating disease? What if?
Beyond these speculative reasons, the real reason why I favor choice is that I don't believe that banning abortion will lead to fewer abortions. Mostly I think that banning abortion leads to less safe abortions. Fundamentally, giving birth - or having an abortion - is a life changing decision that should reside with one person. The woman involved. No other decision is likely to have such significant repurcusions on an individual's life. No other individual should have the right to interfere with that decision. I can't imagine anyone taking this lightly and I can't imagine having to do it in fear for my life.
So, I'm anti-abortion, but pro-choice. I'm pro-free-birth-control-pills and condom distribution programs. I'm pro fully informative sex ed classes and pro state funded adoption programs. I'm pro-CHIP and pro-WIC. I'm pro state supported child care and pro job training programs. I pray that I never live in a country where my reproductive choices are made by someone else and I pray that I never am in a position to have to face such a decision.
* this isn't the link to the AP article, but it's an interesting document that matches the stats they showed. I need to investigate this political organization more to determine if it is some whacked out religious thing or a reasonable perspective on the world.
Nonetheless, I recognize that the reasons why abortion is beyond me have much to do with the sort of environment and economic class and support system available to me. What if I didn't have the job security that I have? What if I didn't have the family support that I have? What if I didn't have health care? What if I was functioning in an abusive environment? What if I was still in school and having a child would limit/eliminate the educational opportunities available to me? What if I didn't think I could raise a child well in the world I was living in? What if I didn't know enough to navigate the options of adoption? What if I was certain that my child would be born with a debilitating disease? What if?
Beyond these speculative reasons, the real reason why I favor choice is that I don't believe that banning abortion will lead to fewer abortions. Mostly I think that banning abortion leads to less safe abortions. Fundamentally, giving birth - or having an abortion - is a life changing decision that should reside with one person. The woman involved. No other decision is likely to have such significant repurcusions on an individual's life. No other individual should have the right to interfere with that decision. I can't imagine anyone taking this lightly and I can't imagine having to do it in fear for my life.
So, I'm anti-abortion, but pro-choice. I'm pro-free-birth-control-pills and condom distribution programs. I'm pro fully informative sex ed classes and pro state funded adoption programs. I'm pro-CHIP and pro-WIC. I'm pro state supported child care and pro job training programs. I pray that I never live in a country where my reproductive choices are made by someone else and I pray that I never am in a position to have to face such a decision.
* this isn't the link to the AP article, but it's an interesting document that matches the stats they showed. I need to investigate this political organization more to determine if it is some whacked out religious thing or a reasonable perspective on the world.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Nail Bitter
Oh my goodness. The democratic presidential nomination is totally a nail bitter for me. McCain is leading on the republican side. And Hillary looks to be edging ahead by just a smidge over Obama (10% reporting right now). Edwards is looking like a solid third and Richardson not even in double digits.
I can't decide what I think about Hillary vs. Obama. On the one hand I worry about Clinton's electability. On the other hand, I'd like to see a woman up front for once. And I can say from hearing her speak she is one sharp woman. Obama has vision. He gave an inspirational sermon, a bit short on the details. In contrast, Clinton has the details. She lays out an agenda. She gave a specific, funny, intelligent speech on what she plans to accomplish. On the flip side, I do think that Clinton will be divisive candidate and it seems across party lines, people are calling Obama a unity candidate.
And I think McCain could be competative for the republicans against either one. Oh gee....
I can't decide what I think about Hillary vs. Obama. On the one hand I worry about Clinton's electability. On the other hand, I'd like to see a woman up front for once. And I can say from hearing her speak she is one sharp woman. Obama has vision. He gave an inspirational sermon, a bit short on the details. In contrast, Clinton has the details. She lays out an agenda. She gave a specific, funny, intelligent speech on what she plans to accomplish. On the flip side, I do think that Clinton will be divisive candidate and it seems across party lines, people are calling Obama a unity candidate.
And I think McCain could be competative for the republicans against either one. Oh gee....
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Decisions Decisions
So I've been struck by the news of elections lately. Iowa and New Hampshire are rapidly approaching the time at which the first US electoral decisions are made. Followed forthwith by Florida, Nevada and South Carolina. I am faced with deciding in the near future who I want to vote for. Do I vote for the candidate who inspires me? Or for the candidate who is most electable in the general election (and who will be most palatable to my red republican family members?)? Or for the candidate who looks like they have gained enough momentum to win?
Fortunately, as a Democrat this year, I am fairly happy with the slate so it's just a matter of deciding who I really really like (rather than the usual deciding who I dislike the least). Remarkably for the candidates who are running there has been much discussion of class divisions but little of racial or gender divisions. I've had the privilege of being up close and personal with 4 of the major candidates in the last 6 months. It is remarkable how different they play in an hour and a half stump speech as opposed to in a sound bite or on a carefully crafted website policy statement. I'm truly torn about who I will stand for when my turn to express my opinion comes around.
Even as our electoral process goes forward, I've been struck by the reports of elections all over the world. Even under great duress (the Civil War) we have held elections as a nation and despite remarkably close elections in the recent past, we have accepted the results peaceably. Contrast this with the elections in Kenya where distrust of a close electoral result led to significant ethnic/class violence or Pakistan where theassignation death of a leading political figure has led to widespread rioting, significant loss of life and property, and delayed elections. Can you imagine being afraid to vote for fear of retribution? Can you imagine dreading an election because the results, whatever they might be, would lead to riots and burning people from the opposing party alive?
Interestingly at the rallies I've been at for Hillary some of her most ardent supporters are elderly women. (The campaign seems to have anticipated this, providing local organizers with snow shovels to dig these women out.) Imagine being a woman alive today and able to vote and remembering that your mother couldn't vote (the 19th amendment was passed in 1919 and women first voted in the presidential election of 1920, so I doubt anyone is alive today who actually remembers not being able to vote). As a young woman who has always had the right to vote, that does not stir me in the same way that I see it visibly stirring women the age of my grandmother. I can only imagine a similar ideal appealing to African Americans and Hispanics.
We live in a country where we can vote safely and without fear for any candidate that we choose. A country in which all citizens are empowered to participate fully in the democratic process. And yet I know people who aren't engaged and informed about the political process. How will they make their decisions when they step into the voting booth? And I know people who don't plan to vote in the next two months for no reason at all. How do they make the decision to pass on a right that was so hard won? And I read about people who risk their life to express their opinion in elections that may not carry any weight at all. How do they make the decision to stand up and be counted?
Fortunately, as a Democrat this year, I am fairly happy with the slate so it's just a matter of deciding who I really really like (rather than the usual deciding who I dislike the least). Remarkably for the candidates who are running there has been much discussion of class divisions but little of racial or gender divisions. I've had the privilege of being up close and personal with 4 of the major candidates in the last 6 months. It is remarkable how different they play in an hour and a half stump speech as opposed to in a sound bite or on a carefully crafted website policy statement. I'm truly torn about who I will stand for when my turn to express my opinion comes around.
Even as our electoral process goes forward, I've been struck by the reports of elections all over the world. Even under great duress (the Civil War) we have held elections as a nation and despite remarkably close elections in the recent past, we have accepted the results peaceably. Contrast this with the elections in Kenya where distrust of a close electoral result led to significant ethnic/class violence or Pakistan where the
Interestingly at the rallies I've been at for Hillary some of her most ardent supporters are elderly women. (The campaign seems to have anticipated this, providing local organizers with snow shovels to dig these women out.) Imagine being a woman alive today and able to vote and remembering that your mother couldn't vote (the 19th amendment was passed in 1919 and women first voted in the presidential election of 1920, so I doubt anyone is alive today who actually remembers not being able to vote). As a young woman who has always had the right to vote, that does not stir me in the same way that I see it visibly stirring women the age of my grandmother. I can only imagine a similar ideal appealing to African Americans and Hispanics.
We live in a country where we can vote safely and without fear for any candidate that we choose. A country in which all citizens are empowered to participate fully in the democratic process. And yet I know people who aren't engaged and informed about the political process. How will they make their decisions when they step into the voting booth? And I know people who don't plan to vote in the next two months for no reason at all. How do they make the decision to pass on a right that was so hard won? And I read about people who risk their life to express their opinion in elections that may not carry any weight at all. How do they make the decision to stand up and be counted?
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