Where do you stand??

I have and continue to view voting as not only a civic duty, but an honor and priveldge... Not only as a woman, but as an American. Nothing angers me more than ignorance, and unfourtunately my generation has no limited its level of ignorance especially when it comes to politics and the running of our country, the sad but true reality is sometimes, people plain and simply, do not care. Up until recently I have been guilty of viewing politics as simply black and white, and while the race of each of our canidates does not help this issue, I have removed the veil and have realized that there is more to politics than the extreme liberal vs. conservative viewpoints.

Although it is sad to say, the majority of my life, it had been drilled into my brain that conservative/ republican = good and democrat/liberal = bad. Of course that is just my blunt analyzation, but close enough for the most part. My life was consumed with the moral components of an election, that I never actually took the time to stop and think further than my normal realm of thinking. Although it embarasses me to admit, many are guilty of the same thing.

So with the upcomming election rapidly approaching ive been forced to choose. Forced to think...
Heres what I've come up with so far:

1) Moral issues are very important to me, I DO NOT believe in abortion; however, who am I or anyone else for that matter to tell a woman what to do or not to do with her body

2) I DO NOT believe in using the sanctity of marriage for two men or two women, but I do believe they should be given the same rights and benefits as any other married couple.

3) War in Iraq.... well lets not even get started on that....

The bottom line is I, like many Americans have moral opinions and beliefs that go both ways and do not rest on the republican or democratic side....
What has finally helped me decide who to vote for was my Mother. She is 43, in shape ( really she has a 6-pack) and your average mother of 3.... problem?? She has type 1 diabeties. She cannot survive without insulin... she also has thyroid diesese, and a fractured spine. All of these dieseses she needs medicine and medication to live, and because these are all pre-existing conditions no one will ensure her. She is currently in nursing school just so she can work for a hospital to attain health benefits.... recently she found a company to ensure her.... for $805.00 A MONTH!!!!! Thats more than some people's rent (prob. not in south florida).

Something that once was never a concern of mine has now come to center stage. Although it does not directly effect me now, I carry the same genes of my mother, if i am diagnosed with a diesese (which is extremely likely) what will I do then??

Im not going to reveal who I am voting for because I do not feel it is my place to try to influence anyone... I ask if you are uninformed...get informed!!! So many people fought and died for our right to vote. People constantly complain about our country and the state of our economy... well now you have a voice, use it.