One of My Biggest Regrets

So, here is my experience - maybe you can relate. I've always hated politics. It was (and is) just a bunch of bickering about stuff I know nothing about. However, I have always considered it my duty and privilege as an American citizen to participate and pay attention to what is going on in my country. Many men and women fought and died so that I could vote and take part in a government of the people, for the people, and by the people (not sure if I got that in the right order). I just never thought I knew enough or had the time to find out enough about what was going on to really have an opinion about anything. So a week or so before elections I'd read an article or two about a candidate or two and ask my parents who they were voting for and then pretty much just vote for whoever they said or whoever had an (R) next to their name (my parents are Republicans so that's what I registered as and who I voted for even though my conscience didn't always fully agree).

This shameful way of exercising my precious right to vote prevailed during the presidential election of 2008. I'm LDS, so my first instinctive choice for President was naturally Mitt Romney. I didn't want to vote for him just because he was Mormon though. So, I read a couple articles about him, found out he was a good businessman and a good leader. I read minimal things about one or two other candidates, and called it good. Romney was my pick. The only thing I heard about Ron Paul is that some of my acquaintances supported him because he was big on the Constitution. I was like, "well duh - isn't everybody?" And then I saw the Revolution banners - those turned me off because I thought he must be some weirdo radical hippie guy. "Youtube Ron Paul", "Google Ron Paul"-saw the signs, never did. 

I had read a few articles on the candidate I was already leaning toward pretty much because of his religion and called it good. I had done my research right? Wrong! My wonderful husband and his crazy family opened my eyes up to Ron Paul after the 2008 election and it changed my life. All I can say is - Ron Paul is big on the Constitution - the ONLY one who is consistently and sincerely - and it is an issue! PLEASE "Google Ron Paul" and "Youtube Ron Paul!!!" One of my biggest regrets is not just my vote in 2008, but my failure to learn about all of the candidates. It's so important! And I'm not taliking about just reading a biased article or two about them, or listening to a segment on Fox News about them. Look up their voting record if they were previously holding public office, find out what they support - not just what they say they support. The thing is - do you know what you support?

Getting back to what politics is - just a bunch of bickering. This is true. I am convinced that politics as the mainstream media conveys, is just a stupid, annoying distraction - just like pro wrestling. They try to bait people by putting as much drama into it as possible - pitting Democrats and Republicans against each other at all costs, saying the key talking points, getting people to focus on irrelevant petty things while both parties sneak through huge important real things right in front of us! I am registered as a Republican (I consider myself a Constitutional Conservative though, I probably would register as an Independent or Libertarian if the system wasn't so biased toward anything that's not D and R). But I don't pay attention to politics, at least not the demagoguing, bickering, nonsense. I like to say that I try to pay attention to what's really going on in America. It's easy to tell the difference when you listen to Ron Paul. A few good videos to show the difference are clips from the 2008 debates here  and here. Notice how Ron Paul talks about real issues. He uses history and logic to defend his position, not just happy American phrases just to get applause. He challenges the status quo and reintroduces the true meaning of liberty and freedom. Don't know what you support? Read the Constitution. It's not that long. Start paying attention to things that go on in the news, not just to what Suzie posted on Facebook, who got kicked off American Idol, or what team beat who in football. Those things are fun, but like I said - we are a chosen generation - not just spiritually! Don't waste your potential! Do you know if the Patriot Act is a good thing? Are you really unpatriotic if you don't support it? 

Whether or not you decide to vote for Ron Paul in 2012, I hope you make your decision after finding out who he is and who the other candidates are. Don't make the same mistake I did. We have a chance to change the course of history here - it won't be easy and one man won't make everything all better in 4 or even 8 years, but at least we'll get a start.