All eyes on us

Never mind that it's Earth Day, it's the Pennsylvania primary today. And if you watch/read the news, you'd assume that's far more important than little old Earth Day. I don't think I could have forgotten to vote today if I'd tried. It's everywhere. The papers, signs stuck up anywhere and everywhere, the news (both local and national), blogs, etc. You can't escape it.

This whole presidential election has been like this. It's been everywhere and a near daily topic for a year and a half now. And we still have a little over 6 months to go. I don't remember a presidential campaign season being this long before. And frankly, I'm sick of it.

I've always been an informed voter. I read up on the candidates and other ballot measures up for the vote, and make my decisions. It's the in your face push of this election that's getting to me. I don't need it stuffed down my throat. Not to mention that if I got all my information from the news and didn't do any of my own research and reading, I'd be grossly misinformed.

I'm not sure what I'm looking forward to more...election day in November so this campaign will be over, or Bush's last day in office so his entire farce of a term will be over.

Primary election day

Today is the primary election in Philadelphia. While this is a primary, in terms of our mayor, it's actually more important than election day. Generally, whomever wins the Democratic primary for mayor becomes mayor of Philly. OK then, I guess I better vote.

I registered to vote back in March when I got my Pennsylvania drivers license. It makes it so simple and easy when you can do both at the same time, so there's really no excuse NOT to be a registered voter. My certificate of voter registration arrived in the mail a few weeks ago, which I promptly signed and filed away in a safe place. I consider the right to vote a big deal. I remember being very angry as a child being told that I couldn't vote and arguing with my parents about it. And I was only around 11 years old. Still, true to form for my parents, I was encouraged to decide who I wanted to vote for and why, and I had to have a good reason. I don't believe they ever told me who they voted for. Not once. Who you vote for is a private thing and it shouldn't matter who everyone else votes for if you've thought about it and made your decision on your own. It's your right and duty to vote, but who's name you select from the ballot is your own business. One of the benefits of living in a "free" society.

Besides, I'm of the school that if you don't participate, you don't have the right to complain about the outcome.

So I'm off to vote. I've done my research, and decided which candidates I like. As for who they are, well, I'm not going to tell you. Go read the ample amount of information available about the candidates running and decide for yourself. And think before you vote.