Election 2012...The Unclear Choice

On Tuesday, November 6, 2012, American voters will head to the polls and cast their votes for the next President. This choice should not be made lightly, as there is a lot on the line. The person we choose will occupy the most powerful office in the world and guide our country for the next four years.

Between now and election day you will be subjected to a media blitz of political advertisements of all shapes and sizes. You will be told who to vote for and who not to vote for. They will give you everything from facts to quotes taken out of context.

I am not going to do that today. I will not talk about Republicans and Democrats. I will not be discussing political policies or ideology. I feel you the reader are quite able to make your own informed decisions on this matter. What I do plan on talking about is voting itself.

I have voted in every presidential election since I turned eighteen, the last five if you are counting. My father is a veteran and he taught me that voting was a civic duty and a necessary component of democracy. So on Election Day I will head to the polls and cast my vote and let my voice be heard.

In years past, the decision of who to vote for was always an easy choice. Almost from the start, I knew who was going to get my vote. There was never a doubt in my mind who the best candidate was and it was simply a matter of waiting for election day to arrive.

However, this year is different. I have no idea who to vote for. Neither candidate jumps out as the right man for the job. As I think about the choice of Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, I can make a case for and against both candidates.

I would like to say that it is difficult to decide between two great candidates, but in reality I simply do not have a lot of confidence in either. I wonder what happened to strong candidates that I could support with conviction. I can not help but wonder how many of my fellow Americans feel the same.

The task before us is large and the choice we make as a nation on November 6 will affect all of our lives. We will choose a person to occupy one of the most powerful offices in the world. Let's make that decision an informed one.

Do some research, learn what the candidates views are on the various issues. Make your decision on facts, not what some political advertisement tells you.

There are many issues facing our country right now, the economy, healthcare and foreign policy to name a few. The candidate that we put into office will have a great effect on what direction we take on these things.

I will not tell you who to vote for, but I will ask that you vote. On November 6, head to your local polling station and let your voice be heard, America needs you!