I'm starting to think a lot more about the election coming later this year.  I have been a middle-of-the-roader for quite awhile.  I agree with Republican policies of the past with regard to the welfare state.  Yes, I know that it was Bill Clinton who has passed the greatest reforms in recent memory.  But, here are my issues:

1. Support of the efforts and lives of the military in Iraq, while holding the administration fully accountable for their decisions.  I'm a Vietnam era child, and we must not make the mistakes of withdrawing our support of the soldiers.  I do believe freedom is maintained with a strong military, one that we should only use in defense of our country.  This brings up the point of whether or not these acts of invasion are in our defense or, instead, acts of offense against a people whose culture and world we cannot fully understand.  I do believe Saddam Hussein was a corrupt and evil leader.  Too many of his own countrymen have said so, scholars many of them, whom I have no reason to invalidate.  The war is a big issue in this election, and I cannot decide yet whether our efforts are just, but I do believe Iraq is better off without having Hussein in power.  Whether it was our business to take him out or not is my main question.

2. While not a pocketbook issue for most people, nor a foreign policy issue, I am decisively against the amendment proposal regarding the definition of a family.  Recently, I have learned that two different members of my family are lesbians.  Even before this however, I have been aware of the ridiculous preoccupation straight culture has with the culture of lesbians and gays.  It's pathetic that we would have laws forbidding people of the same sex to enjoy the full benefits of marriage.  It is ironic, and even more ridiculous that in order to keep the government out of our sex lives, we have to make such a stink over our rights to our sex lives.  It's pathetic, that's all I know to say.  But, if Mr. Bush continues down this path, and I have every reason to believe he will, then this issue alone may cause me to re-evaluate my middle to conservative position on other issues.  (I'm sounding more libertarian every day, I suppose.)

3. The third "big" issue for me is that of education.  It's astounding to me that the more we put money in, and the more requirements that are placed on public education, the less success we have in education.  I have no idea what the answer is, but I don't think anyone has the answer to it. 

4. Oh yeah, there's a fourth.  Health care is beyond the reach now, even of the middle class.  There is not ample governance over the drug companies, medicare is in a ridiculous state of affairs and they are subject now to fewer and fewer "real" audits, doctors make too much money (and I don't want to hear them whine about what their overhead for their offices and clinics, etc.; We know where you live, what kinds of cars you drive, where your children go to college, and what you do for your vacations...waah, waah, waah), and insurance companies are getting wealthier while people are getting poorer.  The middle class is shrinking.

There will be other issues which come to mind, but tonight, these are the big ones on my mind.

I don't believe the Democratic party has the answer to any of these.  Sure, they will represent the disgruntled and the opportunistic Monday morning side, but their answers aren't creative or really different from the same old pablum which has been served by both parties for many years. 

I will watch this election closely, so for any pollsters out there: HERE IS ONE UNDECIDED AND VERY ACTIVE VOTER, and a former Republican.

9:04:48 PM    

1:48:44 PM    

It was an outstanding evening last night. 

The Turtle Creek Chorale, a gay mens chorus in Dallas, Texas, consists of 225 men who love to sing, and they are very good at it.  I have wanted to be a part of it for quite some time, but I wasn't sure I could make the commitment.  My wife and I agreed that we could support the effort with my time, so last night was the first rehearsal for the programs this spring.

More later on this.

7:30:35 AM