Be an aware and informed voter this election. Do
your homework, turn off the TV and think for yourself.

Americans are facing one of the most critical
junctures in U.S. history. We are asked to vote in November for
someone who will guide us safely, prudently and honestly through the
coming years. If the registration numbers are accurate, many more
U.S citizens are ready to cast their ballots then in previous
elections, reflecting an inner awareness of just how crucial this
election is.

But.. are we prepared to make reasoned choices?
This is no time to vote party, a pretty package, glib promises or
with our hearts. Instead, it is incumbent on every voter to closely
examine the records, both Congressional and historic, before voting.
It is all too easy to be swayed by slick rhetoric and patent
manipluation by the candidates. The nature of politics is
dishonesty. It's all too easy to let anger and frustration over
unpopular actions by a sitting administration to colour your
decision making. It's human nature to get emotionally captured by
campaign promises that usually NEVER get fulfilled.

How many of us understand what the President of
the United States role really is, as defined by the Constitution?
Those of you that are not familiar, or need reminding can read it
here:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/article02/. Our
President is only as effective as the sitting Congress allows him to
be. That's pure fact. There are checks and balances against the
Office of the U.S. President, that our Founding Father's prudently
added to the Constitution, to prevent gross abuse of power. In this
context, you begin to grasp the complexities of fulfilling ANY
campaign promises made by pols, touting their candidate.

When a candidate promises health care reform,
better and fairer tax breaks, broader programs to help those who
need it, ask yourself: Where is the money going to come from? How
can such programs be implemented within the context of a trillion
dollar deficit? Would you manage your personal finances based on
living within such a huge amount of debt? I hope not. The bottom
line is we need to tighten, not loosen government spending, pursue a
cautious and considered path to reducing our deficit, yet.. maintain
a high level of security to protect this nation. It might be a wiser
thing to ask more of private industry and individual states, in
handling societal issues. A bloated Federal budget, has in the past,
been a fiscal disaster.

Take the time to pull up the voting records
of the candidates, and see what in reality, and more importantly
how, that candidate voted on key issues. Check how often they
attended Congressional meetings and votes. You might be surprised to
find that what a candidate says he/she did, doesn't quite match the
actual record. http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?
can_id=S0421103, http://www.vote-smart.org/npat.php?can_id=S0421103,
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0421103.
The last link shows clearly how the current candidate actually
performed over the course of his Senate career. It doesn't quite
match his current standing.



Roll Call Number: 237
Bill passed
Full Member List



Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.

Vote to pass a joint resolution that would authorize the use of
force against Iraq.

H.J.RES.114 Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq

Vote to pass a joint resolution that would authorize the use of
force against Iraq. The administration would be required to report
to Congress that diplomatic options have been exhausted before, or
within 48 hours after military action has started. Every 60 days the
president would also be required to submit a progress report to
Congress
(Bill sponsored by Hastert,R-IL)

Note: Oct. 11, 2002, in the session that began and the Congressional
Record that is dated Oct. 10, 2002.
Passed 77-23: R 48-1; D 29-21; I 0-1 on 10/11/02.
Bill sponsored by Hastert,R-IL


As I said, it pays to spend some time looking beyond
the rhetoric and actually assess the performance of those who point
fingers and promise such vast change, yet historically voted quite
differently.

President George Bush : http://www.vote-smart.org/npat.php?
old=true &can_id=CNIP9043&npatform_id=156, http://www.vote-
smart.org/speech_detail.php?
speech_id=51418&keyword=&phrase=&contain=.


Be an aware and informed voter this election. Do
your homework, turn off the TV and think for yourself. No matter who
wins in November, at least some of us will have voted with our
brains and not from slick political cant.