Who Should I Vote For: The Social Issues Alone Should be Enough to Drag a Decision Out of You

At this point, I would dearly like to know how the hell anyone is this country can call themselves an “undecided” voter. Unless you have zero access to the internet, TV, radio, newspapers, and any other form of media, you should have an opinion by now. (This goes for anyone who considers themselves apathetic as well.)

I understand if you are not sure which future president might be better for the economy. Many are disillusioned by Obama’s performance, and confused by Romney’s unstated economic policies. I get it. It is difficult to listen to pundits (each with their own obvious political persuasions, just like me) contradict each other over the effect that either candidate would have on the economy.

Not all of us have the time or energy to go through the proposed national budgets and legislation to decide for ourselves. So when the experts disagree, where does that leave the rest of us, who don’t firmly believe in the economic line of either party?

With morality.

This election has enough social issues that everyone should be able to find something to care about. Are you pro-life, or pro-choice? What do you believe the role of women in 21st century America should be? How about LGTB rights? How do you feel about arts and education funding? Do you believe that the church should play a role in our government? How about immigrant rights to education and health care? The right to bear arms? Are you fan of corporations holding the status of personhood? Of indefinite detention? What kind of relationship do you want the U.S. to have with the rest of the world? Do you think global warming is a real issue?

Don’t tell me you don’t care. You know your hackles rose over at least one of those issues, and there are many, many more.

The decisions made in the next presidency are not going to expire four years from now. Our next president will most likely be instating not one but two supreme court judges, who will rule over many of the above issues in the next few decades. Which way do you hope the Supreme Court will lean on these issues?  

I can tell you that I personally care about individuals being able to act on their conscious without being coerced by their employers; about women’s equality, which is intrinsically linked with health care; about public funding of the arts and education; about immigrant’s rights to health care and fair job conditions (illegal or not); and about acknowledging global warming so that my fair city is not inundated with 13 foot waves on a regular basis.

So if you aren’t already voting based on your economic stance, who you’d rather have a beer with, or which candidate is going to give your income bracket (or lack thereof) the most money back, there is still plenty to be opinionated about. But if you don’t have enough of a moral structure to find something that you care about in this election, then just stay at home.