A Few Thoughts About Voting

After watching the debates and having listened to the stump speeches, press conferences, and pundit opinions for the past several months, I came to a very sad conclusion: I cannot vote for either Kerry or Bush and be totally happy with myself.

I have too many issues with the way Bush and his administration have run things since they took office. I'm not going to quote any Michael Moore propaganda, but I just feel like they haven't been totally straight with me and as much as I don't feel I need my government to have total disclosure at all times, there has been too much that I feel has not been above board with Bush and his cronies.

However, I have no clue who Kerry is. I've been trying to figure this out since the Democratic primaries and still have no answer. After primary debates, conventions, and one presidential debate, I feel like I should have some clue as to who Kerry is, what he stands for, and what he plans to do with this country. And yet...

On occasion, I consider myself to be fairly bright. If I am having such problems, I shudder to think what the average American thinks. You know, those people who can't be bothered to really read anything (or who have no time) and rely on the soundbites the news feels fit to give them. How is anyone supposed to make an educated voting decision in November? Should we just close our eyes and do an eeny-meeny-miney-mo?

Someone I know is advocating not voting. Not for himself but for everyone else. As much as I'd love to believe that is the answer, part of me still feels that voting is a civic duty...or at least something you should do if you want to complain about things. But do I want the uneducated and the occasionally stupid to vote just because they want to be able to complain later?

I'm just not sure there is an answer to any of this...either way that first Tuesday in November won't do much to cheer me up.
Perhaps I'll just drink heavily.