The Great American Vote-Out

The voting process is our opportunity to have a say in who we employ to further the interests of a free America at city, county, state and national levels. In this time of transition, voting wisely is important.

The voting process is our opportunity to have a say in who we employ to further the interests of a free America at city, county, state and national levels. In this time of transition, voting wisely is important

The Texas Republican and Democratic primaries are March 2, and early voting begins Feb. 16. You can follow the links for ballot and candidate information. In Texas, all of the statewide elected officials are Republicans. If you vote in a Texas primary election, you must choose a Republican or Democratic ballot – you cannot pick and choose from different parties until the general election.

Standing in a voting booth and seeing names that are completely alien can be intimidating. Many find it easier to just check Republican or Democrat and go on about his or her business, but I encourage you to explore other options! We have the Independents, Liberals, Libertarians, the tea partiers inspired by Ron Paul and so many other overlapping parties.

The three main players in the gubernatorial election are incumbent Governor Rick Perry, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Debra Medina.

Debra Medina has been endorsed by the Independents via ljcurtis@indytexans.org. Perry and Hutchinson tried to block Medina from debates, but the people would not allow it. The result was that she whooped the heck out of her fellow debaters. Perry, in his usual heavy-handed style, hired Fox News pundit Glenn Beck to dismantle Medina.

That is when it dawned on many of us that we no longer have to put up with such cheap shots. Grassroots style change will take place in the governor’s office only if Medina is elected.

Republican Attorney General Abbott ripped his britches with many Texans by fiddling around with the Freedom of Information Laws. The Attorney General must keep transparency in government. When those doors shut, it is a good indication there are things to hide. No candidate that I know of has made this issue a campaign priority, which I find disappointing. I feel Abbott must go for breaking the very laws he is entrusted to protect.

There are so many careers riding on this primary that it is impossible to go into each candidate individually. We must remember that making political careers is not the goal of voters. Allowing someone to set up a homestead is what happens when voters simply check Democrat or Republican in the voting booth. There is a very simple way to turn this around.

A list of unfamiliar names can be intimidating. To take the fear out of the process, a good rule of thumb is to see who is in office now and select another option. We may lose a few good people- but the good ‘ol boys clubs will be unraveled. Circles of political slyness that have existed for years will halt due to lack of grease. And look at all of the pink slips that we can hand out to the entities that led us to our current state of disaster.

Of course we have some that are running unopposed, but that might change by the next election cycle. We will open doors to positions that previously could not be breached by a stick of TNT. Qualified candidates will emerge and all officials will be on their toes. We don’t need a law to limit officials to two term limits. Voters can handle that by making sure there is a two term turnover.

All of those great projects being offered are not freebies. It comes from your pocket and will be added to the amount that has you up to your eyeballs in debt. And if you buy it you have to pay for it. Failure to vote may be considered as agreement to continue giving blank checks to questionable people for a purpose that is likely to be an overpriced piece of folly. Keep that in mind for future reference. Panic, binge and out of control spending by politicians is an issue that starts and/or ends with us and our vote. The buck will stop whenever make the call.

The primaries are March 2, with early voting beginning Feb. 16, so I urge you to participate in what I have dubbed as the Great American Vote-Out and avoid voting for the incumbents. This is history in the making and if done as suggested the poll results will reflect our clout in the retaking of America. The highlight in your life is right in front of you. Years from now you can tell your grandchildren that you were here and that you fought overreaching government and won with common sense. Don’t be a bystander. The fun has just begun.