Woody, I think the valid question everyone can ask themselves at election time is: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago." The answer to that for me...and I suspect most Americans...is "no." As I said earlier, I feel less financially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically secure than I did four years ago. I attribute all of that insecurity to the policies of the Bush Adminstration. 9/11 did not make me as insecure as Bush's policies have since then.
Now, for me the answer to the question is quite different. I
do feel more secure emotionally, intellectually, and physically now. Financially, no, but moving cross country does that, regardless of the political climate. And I've been able to get work again, which is heartening. So, on an individual level, yes, I am better off now than I was.
All the same, I feel betrayed by the Bush admin, and by my party, and have felt so for some time. But this just leaves me without the party I grew up with, that my family raised me to believe in. What has
not happened is finding a reason to switch parties to the Democrat, or to any other at this time.
Let's reduce this to a single issue, just for reason of arguement: gay rights. Yes, I feel betrayed because of Bush's support for the anti-marriage amendment. I find that foul. But Bush is not the first President to head in this direction. Clinton was the President who signed the Defense of Marriage Act. He was also the President who approved Don't Ask Don't Tell. And Kerry has said that he is opposed to gay marriage. On this one issue, I have no reason to believe that my situation will improve if Kerry is elected. It's very difficult for me to tell who represents the frying pan, and who represents the fire.
Which leaves me in a quandry. Yes, I can vote against Bush. But I have no reason to vote
for anyone else!
And I need a reason, something positive. No one has yet given me that reason.
Don't give up trying, of course. November is several months away, lots of time for change.
