Not so long ago, just after the DNC and RNC got done, I knew who I was going to vote for for president.  I was pretty confident in my decision, but then almost immediately my confidence started to erode away.  Then tonight, driving back from work, I was no longer sure who I wanted to vote for.  I found myself balancing the issues and the people and really couldn’t shake out an answer.  I felt like it was 2004 all over again, and I couldn’t decide what poison I wanted to swallow for the next four years.

The battle went back and forth for me in my head: I’m a registered republican, but identify more with democrats.  I hate the republican party but don’t like most democrats.  I hate right-wing views on personal issues, but value their opinions on national interest.  I like democratic views on personal issues, but don’t think they have ANY opinions on national interest.  I think republicans are elitists, but I also think democrats are disillusioned.

That last one is going to get me in trouble.  I’m sure I’ll hear a few comments back on this post, but more than likely they’ll come directly at my face from someone else.  It’s for this reason I’ve abstained from politics for so long on this blog: I don’t want backlash.  But it’s too late now, it’s out there.  But can’t you see?  I’m not picking sides…I’m trying to find my side.

So republicans are rich, stingy fuckers who only care about themselves.  That’s how I feel, for the most part.  They have severly twisted views on personal issues that they should completely butt the fuck out of.  Who cares who you marry, who you fuck, if you don’t want to keep a baby, etc.  These are personal issues, not Governmental issues.  Democrats have the right views on these issues: let the people decide what they want.  You want to marry a dude and your a dude?  Give ‘er shit.  You want to have an abortion?  Well, you can…because it’s your choice.

So here’s where the democrats are disillusioned: these personal issues aren’t what makes a political platform.  It’s what gets you votes, but a serious voter doesn’t vote because out of 10 issues you stand for, I agree with 8 of them.  Each issue has a weight to it.  If you only agree with two issues, but they are more important (or more “weighty” issues, to stick with the analogy), and those out weigh (woo!) the rest of the 8 less-important (weighty) issues, then that’s who I’m voting for.  Currently, the democrats are letting their guard down on important (weighty) issues and making some bad decisions while pushing their feelings on the less weighty decisions.

Right now, I don’t care as much about gay marriages, abortions, etc. as I do about THIS COUNTRY right now.  Gay marraige and abortions, legal drinking ages, and other non show-stopping issues won’t about to shit if this country continues to swirl it’s way down the toilet.  We’re in debt up to our eyes, and it’s only growing daily.  For example, did you know all of now own not only a mortgage company, but also an INSURANCE company too?  It’s true!  We might also bail out a car company as well.  We can’t even afford to finance that war we’re in, and we’re buying companies??  Who’s going to buy our debt we when can’t afford to sustain any more?

I can’t afford to drive any more.  I pay 25% more for the same groceries I bought last year.  My taxes keep going up.  I’m not sure if I’m going to have a sufficient retirement plan when and if I get to retire.  I’m more worried about these issues right now.  Not the other stuff that I’ll work on changing once I’m assured my country is going to crap the bed on me.

The democrats are losing ground with me because they aren’t fixing the issues that are important to me (you run the congress, let’s make some better decisions please).  They aren’t selling the good stuff they were a mere few months ago for me to pick up their brand for four years.  The republicans are the ones who are (mostly) to blame for our current state of affairs.  That pushes me back to the democrats side again.  But the republicans are starting to sell their brand more geniunly and are giving–please take note, democrats–SOLUTIONS to the issues *I* want resolved.  So I’m back in the middle again.

I’m hesitant to say I’m going to vote republican because they still don’t align fully with the issues I care about.  They do have plans to fix the major issues I care about.  I’m also hesitant to say I’m going to vote democratic because they’ve lost their focus on the issues entirely.  They’ve done it before, and they’re starting to do it again.  So I’m in the middle here.

Some one toss me a lifeline.  Can I ask the audience?  Better yet, can I phone-a-non-partisan-friend?