Although I'm typically not political, this presidential election has inspired me to take a leap and write on the topic. I'm an independent voter and generally will vote for the candidate, not the party. Yet I hold many liberal views. I am:
- Pro-choice: I believe a woman has the right to choose what is best for her body and her life. Regardless of my own beliefs, I don't believe anyone should dictate what a woman can and can't do when it comes to her own reproductive system.
- Pro-Gay/Lesbian Rights and Marriage: I believe one's sexuality is irrelevant when it comes to rights and marriage. I don't believe marriage is a religious institution. I believe it is a commitment between two people to build and share a life together, regardless of religious faith (or lack thereof).
- Pro-Environment: I believe in doing everything in our power to protect our environment so we can ensure the lives of all species that share this amazing and beautiful planet. I believe we should conserve our resources, and to the best of our ability, reduce activities that can negatively impact the earth.
- Pro-Renewable Energy: I believe we need to radically diminish, if not eliminate, our dependence on traditional energy sources and, instead, look to renewable sources as a way to produce energy. We also need to seriously rethink our consumption, not only as a nation, but as a planet as well.
And the list goes on.
In light of the above, my electoral decision might surprise. Although there are many reasons for my presidential choice, a simple analogy that might best illustrate: Voting for Barack Obama solely to achieve the above pro "issues" is a reversal of priorities like putting the cart before the horse.
If we stop and think about the big picture, it is hard to deny that as a country we are going through some terribly difficult and scary times. We don't need statistics or detailed facts to know this. We can feel it.
- Our unemployment rates are painfully high
- College graduates are struggling to find jobs
- Gas prices are the highest we've ever seen
- Our national debt is unfathomable
- We continue to spend money we don't have
- The Middle East has become increasingly unstable
- Nuclear arms in the wrong hands continue to be of grave concern, while our own nuclear capabilities have been greatly diminished
- Our status with important allies, such as Israel, grows more and more tenuous
- The serious threat of cyber terrorism continues to grow
These facts are far too serious to occupy second place. They need to be prioritized. In looking at the horse and cart analogy above, imagine our civil liberties are in the cart. In order to move forward and thrive as a nation, we need to put a horse in place first -- which is to stabilize and grow our economy, and ensure the security of our nation. Without these two priorities, our freedoms... our choices... our liberties... our beliefs are moot.
All parents want the best for their children, and as both an American and a mom-to-be, these issues are paramount in my mind. In no uncertain terms do I want my children to inherit the debt we've accumulated, or to live in a world that is fraught with terrorism. I want their freedoms to be protected. I want their homeland to be safe. And I want them to have the opportunity to thrive.
Whether you like him or not, I sincerely believe Mitt Romney's primary concern is for the people of this country, and restoring our economy and national security. Not only do I believe he has the ability to turn the country around, help stabilize its economy and ensure our security, but I also have no doubt that these issues will take a tremendous amount, if not all, of his time and energy. In my heart of hearts, I don't believe he will focus on taking civil liberties away, such as a woman's right to choose. He won't have time for it; he understands there are much more pressing issues at stake. And, other than to secure the right-wing vote, I'm not convinced that he has any real interest in making it part of his presidency anyway.
Although the Democrats have painted Mitt Romney as a heartless, insensitive man, we are starting to see and hear the truth. Moreover, I choose to look at his track record. As a Massachusetts state resident, I can say that during Mitt Romney's term, he focused on what mattered to the people, not on taking civil liberties away from them (such as a woman's right to choose what is best for her body). And when it comes to the nation, I believe he will do the same.
Just as the nation took a chance on Obama four years ago, I'm betting on Mitt Romney to focus on what is most important to our nation right now: getting us back on our feet, developing jobs for our people, and strengthening our nation's security.