As we all know this is election year.  And before I go any further, I have a couple of requests.  Please do not use my opinion article to bash me, my views, or the President.  We need to respect each other's opinions.  And frankly, I'm tired of hearing people complain about President Obama.

I was raised a Democrat.  My parents were good people, with limited views.  They voted Democrat, because they were Democrats, which is what a lot of people do.  They vote for the party, and oftentimes, don't take into account the actual person they're voting for.   I was raised to believe Democrats were good people, Republicans were bad people, and they were the only two choices on the ballot.  I am thankful for much of what my parents taught me... but wish they would have taught be a better way of thinking when it comes to politics and who to vote for.

I think it's safe to say that much of America has lost faith in our government... and how could we not?   Considering the actions of those currently in office, and those who previously held office,  I am flat out disgusted and discouraged with our government.  Thank you, Democrat and Republican leaders, for killing the faith of the American people in the political process, in their leaders, and in some cases, their votes, as many also believe their vote counts for little to nothing nowadays.  Perhaps you should remember you work for the American people... not the other way around.  And you have fallen well below doing a good job.   Your job performance frankly stinks.

When I was a child, one of the things I looked forward too the most about adulthood was getting to vote.  So imagine my disappointment that now that I'm in adulthood, the thought of casting a vote makes me sick to my stomach.  It doesn't excite me, it doesn't make me proud, it doesn't make me feel good.  It saddens me, and makes me nauseated at the thought of picking the lesser of two evils.  And that is where we have all got to change our thinking.  Americans want change, major change, in our government.  How exactly do you expect to get that major change if you keep putting the same old parties, the Democrats and Republicans, in office?  Aren't these the two major parties everyone is always complaining about?  As long as they're in office, no real change will ever be accomplished.   

There are more than two choices for President.  It's not a choice simply between President Obama and Mitt Romney.  Part of the the problem with politics these days is that Americans feel they only have a choice been the Democrat and the Republican nominees.  You have more choices than that.  The extremeists of both the Democrats and the Republicans are the ones that currently hold office.  Until we get them out, and get moderates in, we will never see any change in this country that the country can mostly agree upon.  We'll either see things done the extreme right wing way, or the extreme left ring way.  And in either of those scenarios,  that leaves alot of Americans out... which isn't fair. 

So in trying to save myself headaches, and a sick to my stomach feeling, I began researching...  trying to find someone actually worthy of my vote, instead of the "lesser of two evils."  And stumbled across a political party... a party that I'm ashamed to say that I've never heard of, despite it being around for hundreds of years in this country... and despite that one of the our U.S. Presidents did indeed belong to this political party (thanks mom and dad.) 

The Whig Party... kind of a funny name, but it's been around for hundreds of years.  I won't go into all that they stand for and believe, you can do the research for yourselves.  It went into hibernation during the 1900's.  But it has been brought back and renamed the Modern Whig Party.  Who brought it back?  Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans who have fought in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, who defend the flag, our country, our freedom, our rights.  They of all people understand and know how our government works,  since they are the ones most affected by it, so it stands to reason they would know best how to fix it.

But, if you decide the Whig Party isn't for you (and no hard feelings if it's not), then research the other parties... the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party.   There are several more choices for you than just the Democrats and Republicans.   People always say get out and vote, it's your responsibility to do so, people died for your right to vote.  That's absolutely a true statement.  However, people didn't die for your right to vote just for a Democrat or a Republican.  You have the right to vote for whomever you wish.  So use your right to vote, and remember, you have more than two choices for whom you can cast your vote.  

Allen Buchannon 

* * *

Mr. Buchannon lives in an alternate reality where choices in politics number as a myriad of rainbow colors. The rest of us live in a more black-n-white world (no ethnicity intended). Voting for a third (fourth, fifth...ad infinatum) party/candidate does nothing except give the final vote to the person you were attempting to oust.  

Voting your conscience may allow you to perceive yourself altruistic, idealistic, doing it the way your civics instructor in high school said it "should" be. But I have a sneaking suspicion many (including Mr. Buchannon) have afforded themselves the luxury of parroting similar comments when their party is in power. Sometime in the, hopefully, not-too-distant future, when the opposition is in office, none of them will not be touting 3rd party alternatives. Right now, for the rest of us, all we can do is use our vote to help prevent another term of financial holocaust. 

Then again, until the electoral college is a distant memory, nothing will change. Absolutely nothing. 

David D. Fihn
Hixson

* * *

Mr. Buchannon has taken the time to write a thoughtful letter on the current mindset of today's electorate And the response he has received from Mr. Fihn only serves as a reinforcement of his opinion. Mr. Fihn offers no solution only backhanded insults to a person he does not agree with. 

I agree with Mr. Buchannon. There are more than two choices. For example, Gary Johnson would be a moderate leader and a better choice than either President Obama or Mitt Romney but people like Mr. Fihn would rather vote for a winner than what is best for this country. 

During the primaries I would try to engage my fellow Americans in a discussion about our choices. Most of the responses left me with a sad feeling.  Comments such as why vote for him he can't win, well if you don't vote for him your right.  Or he doesn't look presidential and so forth. 

Most of the folks around here jumped on the Rick Santorum band wagon, gonna save the unborn, but Congress makes the laws so how's that red herring working out for you? And we have seen what happens when either of the two parties has complete control. The W years gave us wars and debt while the Democrats of 08'-10' gave us war and debt. Yet people keep sending back the same representatives. Chuck Fleishman anyone? How does having a party yes man do us any good? Yes keep voting for a winner and we all loose.

 Comments such as Mr. Fihn's do nothing to further the debate and are designed to maintain the status quo. But have faith some of us are paying attention, some of us don't blindly vote for a party, some of us do value our vote . Whether or not I vote for a winner I know I have looked at the candidates and voted my conscience.  But so many people such as Mr. Fihn hold there nose and vote against their best interests we all get more of the same. War and debt. 

This election has been sold as the defining moment of our time but Tennessee and Georgia are in the red column and November is two months away, so how does that make you feel? You have been disenfranchised. You have been taken for granted and when the tally is told you will hear about the mandate from the voters because you did what you are were told to do, you voted for a winner. So go hold your nose and vote for the guy with the R or throw away your vote and vote for the D, just don't complain to me or Mr.  Buchannon about it. We have voted for the candidate that best fits our world view.  Perhaps it is time to develop yours. 

David J. Haynes