Election Day 2006

So, I can admit it, I am a recovering political junkie. Now that I am out of the biz, so to speak, I have much less interest and respect for the politicians running this city, county, state, country. Here's what I want from a candidate: An answer. No spin, just answer a question. I have been reading as many articles as my limited time will allow me on the local candidates. They just get me all worked up. Question: Do you support a ban on... Answer: Spin. Spin. Spin. Spin. After reading the article, I have no idea. It's a YES OR NO QUESTION. That's it - YES OR NO.

I know - it's not that simple all the time. Well, let me see. Last time I checked, a vote in Congress was not in short answer format. You are going to vote yes or no. Tell me what it will be.

There are two important items on the ballot in Wisconsin - Marriage and the Death Penalty. These are two issues I disagree with my conservative colleagues on. I don't support the ban on gay marriage, nor do I support a definition of marriage. If two people want to get married, why should government get in the way? Are we protecting our traditional values? Possibly. However, I would rather see traditional values such as kids not shooting up high schools addressed before gay marriage. Once we deal with all the other problems in the country that lead to murder and mayhem, then let's tackle the "issue" of gay marriage.

As far as the death penalty goes, I am strongly against it. I know. This seems odd coming from me. There are two reasons why I am against it. First, I believe that life is an inherent right. Nothing you can do can take that right away from me. Don't argue with me on this one. This is a question of faith - I have mine, you have yours. I appreciate and respect yours, and I know the arguments on the other side. I have mine, and I ask you to respect it. Second, I don't think the death penalty is harsh enough. I really don't. I want to see someone suffer for the rest of their lives - and suffer a greater punishment than a needle or a chair. I mean really suffer. I would invite each member of the victim's family to come up and punch the guilty party in the face (or whereever) every day for the rest of that person's life. And I would also force them to watch the same bad movie over and over again - literally every moment they are awake. Same movie, no changes, nothing. Just the same. I want them to look at life and realize that they are in hell on earth. I would include murderers, those who kill others because they were driving drunk and sexual offenders in that group. (I don't mean the 20 year old that had sex with the 17 year old girlfriend. I mean the rapists, mollesters, etc).

As I have said many times, I don't care how you vote, just get out and vote on Tuesday. If you don't vote, you have no right, NO RIGHT, to bitch about anything that goes on in this country.