There is a reason why people suggest that you don't bring up politics and religion at a dinner party.  I think it sours the wine.  Yet the issues are something that adult citizens do need to look at and consider in order to maintain proper representation in our government.

There has been quite a lot of talk lately on the abortion issue.  When exactly is it that a fetus becomes a viable life form?  People just can't seem to agree on this.  The important thing to remember is that we are not in the same place medically today as we were in the 1970's when Roe vs. Wade was introduced to the US Supreme Court.  The issue was brought before the court to protect pregnant women that had been violated, not to give free reign and to be utilized as a method of birth control.  "Roe," Norma McCorvey, later changed her mind regarding this issue as she met women that had used abortion clinics a half a dozen times each.  By this time it was too late, the amendment had been passed.  Today we have other methods of insuring that women do not have to become pregnant.  Birth control meothods of a shot you can receive every three months, inserts, patches, pills, and iud's.  Science has even created a morning after pill to help a woman start her menstral period immediately if she has been violated and fears pregnancy.  Regardless the law exits and does not determine clearly when the fetus actually may be "viable."  Accounts of pregnancies being terminated through the second trimester have been reported even though there is a probablity of survival at as little as 24 weeks and a "birth" at 25 weeks is considered a stillborn child.  The right of the mother to choose is placed above the medical implications of the viablity and rights of the fetus to live.  If Roe vs. Wade is overturned it does not stop abortions but resends the complication of determining abortion laws back to individual states.

Another major issue in the election has been the idea of religion even though legally we have determined that there should be a separation of church and state.  There are hundreds of different religions represented in the United States with the predominate religion being Christian, which incorporates many faiths.  We do, however, need to consider that there are atheists, Wiccans, Pagans, Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, Zorastians, and many others that would need proper and considerate representation if religion were to become an issue.  We can take into consideration the fact that the candidates religious beliefs may affect their viewpoint in certain issues, but it does not give them the right to instill their religious belief into their job.  Most Americans do not, unless they are ministers, go into the office wearing "Baptist and Proud" on their shirt and use their religious beliefs as a platform for their work performance.  One might see where a particular religious Zealot might cause a problem in office, or someone with extreme and radical views that have influenced their behaviors, but other than that a candidates religion should not be a consideration in determining their ability to serve the country.

Environmental issues, on the other hand, should concern us.  We have to understand, however, that no particular candidate can be counted upon to save our planet.  We each have to do our part in making a difference.  We also need to realize that we have the power of the vote, we have the repsonsibility of making our views known, and we have the duty to teach our youth about conservation, recycling, and renewable energy choices.  We need to create an excitement in our educational facilities to make the students want to find ways in which we can help heal the planet and quit raping it.  Yet even if we do this at home we cannot dictate our policies to other countries.  Some of them, such as Mexico, will not follow suit.  It is like a reformed smoker going into a bingo hall, he may not smoke but he will get the fumes and be affected. 

It becomes a major faux pas of American voters to focus solely on the issues that they cannot change.  It is also a mistake to look at something and blatantly refuse to see the reality in the situation and deal with the issue emotionally instead of logically.  It is these types of over exaggerations and refusals to properly evaluate that have created our current downward spiral of events.  It's easy to take a president and place blame solely upon the man.  One target is much easier to hit than a few hundred.  In reality, however, it is the fault of millions.  Millions who did nothing but sit back and complain.  Millions that blindly followed party lines.  Millions that did not pick up a phone or a pen in order to voice their concerns and try and make a difference.  How many times have people reelected useless politicians into office because they knew their name and they were the only representative of their political party?  Too many.

So, America, if you want change, start changing.  You can't honestly expect one man to do it for you.