Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.  

When choosing a candidate to vote for, it is absolutely critical that you weigh the factors rationally and not emotionally. This is particularly true as we approach the final weeks of the election cycle when candidates resort to personal attacks rather than discussing the issues. Candidates who do not have a platform that includes the things that the majority of voters favor attempt to hide that fact by avoiding or misinforming the voters as to their true beliefs and what they are likely to vote for if elected. Many candidates on the left, who have a history of voting for and supporting issues contrary to the foundations of our country, try to present themselves as moderates when in reality they are socialists/communists. A prime example of this is governor Spanberger of Virginia, who ran as a moderate, but has implemented nothing but socialist policies since taking office.
There is an old practice in politics–if you can’t win on the issues, then attack the character of your opponent. What this does, of course, is to divert the voters from a rational assessment of the issues and puts their to focus on things that do not matter. Remember, the best candidate to vote for is the one who will support your values and beliefs because they are consistent with theirs. In the current state of things, where the Republican and Democrat parties are so dramatically different on all the major issues (such as open or closed borders, lower taxes, less regulation, and following Judeo/Christian values), we cannot allow ourselves to be diverted by personal attacks. Let’s face it, we all have things in the past that we have done that were inconsistent with our values and which we regret. None of us are perfect. To err is human. Fortunately, we are not voting to elect a Pope or pastor. All we should expect is that the person we vote for will follow the values and policies we believe in. Deciding which political party represents your values is the most important decision. The rest of it is easy. The Democrat party’s increasing support of socialist/communist and Islamist candidates should be all you need to know.

Remember, once in office, the vast majority of congressmen and senators vote with the leadership of their party. This is just a fact. For example, the Democrats voted against the Trump tax cuts, they opposed his efforts to close the border to illegal aliens, they wanted to mandate electric vehicles and require that we stop using fossil fuels and rely on wind and solar, and they opposed requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote. Another recent example was a bill written by the Republicans in the House that would have required all data centers to produce their own energy and not increase the rates in the surrounding community. The bill passed the House, but was blocked by Senate leader Chuck Schumer because he did not want to give President Trump a victory. All the Democrats in the Senate went along with their leader. The point is that the most important factor in deciding whom to vote for is the political party of the candidate. I suppose it would be nice if that were not the case, but it is the reality today.

Remember, all it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. Not voting is in reality a vote for the other side! Get out and ensure that this country continues as the greatest country the world has ever seen and that it is passed on to your children and grandchildren as it was given to you. As President Kennedy said at his inauguration, “The torch (of freedom) is being passed to a new generation; we do not shy from it we welcome it!” We must not fail to do our duty.