(in)Decision 08.

**I’m prefacing this post by saying that when it comes to political conversation, I usually just have to “fake it to make it.” I have very little understanding of politics, but I have a great desire to be a responsible citizen, and I know that means becoming a more informed person and thinking wisely about the consequences of my vote.**

I know that I don’t have to make a decision about this anytime in the near future, but it’s already on my mind, and I thought I would post about it. I’ve been trying to keep up with all the Presidential election news for a couple of months now. I’m starting to get a pretty good idea of each candidate’s viewpoints, and I’m very indecisive about all of it. I haven’t been wild about any of the candidates in general, although there are certainly some that I favor more than others. At this point, it is looking as if John McCain is a shoe-in for the Republican nomination, and unless there is a major comeback in the works for Hillary, it looks like Barack Obama is going to snag the Democratic nomination.

I know I’m not going to agree 100% with any candidate, so I know I have to figure out what (in my mind) are the most important issues and which candidate lines up best with my ideal. Even knowing that it’s not the number one issue on the ballot for the majority of Americans, I still think the most important issue in our country is the breakdown of the family unit. There is no society on earth that does not, at its core, revolve around the family. Family is the most basic unit of a society, and when I look around to see breakdown and disorder within families everywhere, I believe it has to be an issue of national crisis. Here is where I get stuck. Right now, it doesn’t look like a there is going to be a pro-family candidate on the ballot.  If I really think that these issues (abortion, gay marriage, embryonic stem cell research, and all other family related issues) are the most important issues, should I even vote?

Can I, in good faith, vote for a candidate that does not value life and family like I believe is necessary? Is it more irresponsible to not vote at all or to vote for someone who I believe has unethical ideals about the most basic unit of our society? If I eliminate this issue from my mind’s debate, I’m sure I could pick a better (not best) choice between Barack and McCain…but I’m not sure I can elminate this issue. I was reading an article yesterday about Dr. Dobson’s opinion. Dobson’s statement is that he may not vote in the election if there is no pro-family candidate. He is very politically active, so that is a strong statement for him to make.  Is that the best solution?

I know that there are about a million other issues that are getting more attention right now. I haven’t forgotten that we are in the middle of a war, and I know our economy may be headed for a slump. I recognize that healthcare is an issue and that immigration laws are in desperate need of changing. But in the midst of all those hot-topic issues, I still fear voting for any candidate who isn’t pro-family because ultimately, I think that the breakdown of the family will lead to the downfall of a great country, and I want to fight against that happening.