I’ve been thinking about registrations. Actually I’ve been thinking about the 2008 elections, the endless campaigns, the Supreme Court, endless payment increases, and a growing malaise affecting all US/us. It is really difficult to get fired up for the coming elections which are still some six months off into the future. This is no small observation coming from me – the all-time news and political junkie! I am not alone in this feeling of weariness as many of my readers agree on this.
You see the Tuesday primary elections in Indiana and North Carolina “may” determine who will be the standard bearer for the Democratic Party in the 2008 Presidential election, but I am not counting on it. Both Senators Clinton and Obama claim they are in the fight until the 2008 Denver Convention. Senator McCain has “locked in” the Republican Party spot on the ballot. Campaigning has gone on for two years. The conventions, real debates, and podium combat still loom before us. I was disgusted and undecided about my choice options in 2004. I voted for President last and ended up actually flipping a coin - John Kerry “won” the toss! That is no way to make a voting decision.
This time I’ve threatened to write in “none of the above” and
check THAT as a protest vote. Mrs. Thomas, one of my all-time favorite
teachers (and League of Women Voter member), lectured me that THAT is a
sorry cop-out and that she was absolutely ashamed of me for even joking
about it! As always… she is completely correct. Choosing our next
President is a sacred right, an honor, and a privilege - one dearly
paid for by those who have gone before us and defended this land, its
constitutional processes, and the American way of life. This country is
in a mess no matter how you TH*NK about it. The current Newsweek cover
story talks about “The Post American World” and how over 80% of our
population believe the nation is on the WRONG track – a 40 plus year
high!
We need leadership and a major change of course. Our next
president must not only be Chief Executive and Commander in Chief, they
must be an inspirational Cheerleader-in-Chief. Their oratory from the
“bully pulpit” of the Oval Office must be backed with a specific
bullet-point listing of the details of their agenda and plan of action
with a timetable. Platitudes, clichés, and sound bites are NOT going to
cut it. We need the leadership of a John Kennedy or a Ronald Reagan to
fire up the populace and unite them in the hard choices we must face as
a nation. Details on their plans for a turnaround have NOT been
forthcoming from McCain, Obama, or Clinton. Shame on them! And… shame
on US/us for not demanding such from them. Heck… they haven’t fully
IDed the problems!
The recent US Supreme Court ruling upholding
the Indiana photo ID requirement caused me to research voting
requirements. I was shocked by what I learned. The steps necessary for
voter registration, residency requirements, and time frame requirements
for registration vary greatly from state to state – even for the
national office elections. If you are not registered, you cannot vote.
The Illinois system has shorter eligibility and registration time
frames (before elections) than most states. Some require almost a full
year of residency and a minimum 90 day window of registration before
the elections. Illinois even has “motor voter” where you take care of
the necessary paperwork at the Secretary of State’s offices for
drivers’ licenses changes and renewals. This couldn’t be easier!
It
is so tempting to be focused on the never ending (and escalating) bills
and payments that we face every month. The barrage of the daily
negatives calluses us into a numbed stupor of malaise that we can
readily forget how “we” are the problem, but “we” are the solution. If
you are not registered to vote; please call your County Clerk’s Office,
get the relevant information, and get registered! There is still time.
I’m Fred Cederholm and I’ve been thinking. You should be thinking, too.
Writings 
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