cynic?

I never have really thought of myself as cynical, but that is starting to change. I have always followed politics pretty closely because I believe it is our duty to be well-informed voters. I think it also has to do with the fact that I am pretty competitive as well. Over the past few years, I have begun to look at the political arena in a much different light. I have never considered myself to be Democrat or Republican. Let me explain that. I have seen far too many people that pre-determine that they are going to vote for the Democrat or the Republican nominee for President even before they know who they are or anything about what they believe. I do not fall into a neat little category for the parties to manipulate. I refuse to be defined by a label of Democrat or Republican!

However, there are a few things that I hold dear and that I believe whole-heartedly. I believe that there is a creator who loves us and has a plan for us. I believe that life is precious and it deserves protecting. I believe that government ought to be there for the individual, and that the individual ought to be there for the country. I believe that people ought to do everything they can to provide for themselves, and that the government ought to help those that are unable to do so. I believe that many people take advantage of the system, but that shouldn't be an excuse to do away with helping those that truly need it. I believe that people should be free to live their lives without fear of the government as long as they are not negatively affecting others.

My problem with the political arena in America 2008 is that for so long we have been completely divided. When are we going to see this country come together, and is it possible? I have become sceptical, and maybe even a bit cynical about the possibility. It seems that whatever party is in power does whatever they can to retain power while the opposition party does everything they can to see that the power gets transfered. When the Republicans control the White House, the Democrats do everything they can to make sure that nothing good happens because after all, there is another election in 4 years. It is exactly the same when the Democrats are in the White House. It seems that there are always enough opposing politicians that they are able to defeat whatever good might have come about so that they can whine about it and maybe regain power in the next election.

Both parties have allowed themselves to be controled by the special interest groups that constantly bombard them with their own opinions about America. I long for a day in America when we actually do set aside the politics of power so that we can accomplish the things that need to be done! When will we ever have a President and congressional leaders that care more about doing the right thing than who gets credit for it? When will we ever have strong leadership that is not constantly being undermined by the opposition party? Why do the parties have to disagree about everything while we in America suffer?

The rhetoric out of both of the conventions sounds great until you read between the lines. I have come to fear that no matter who gets elected we are in for more of the same. There are politicians on both sides of the aisle with noble ideas and important improvements for America and our world, but I fear that we are in for many more years of fighting and arguing at every turn. It's time to put aside the party loyalty and politics of power and failure and work together for the American people. I'm still going to vote, because it is my right and it is my duty, but I wish that I really believed that something good was about to happen!