Election Day!

Tuesday is election day.  While it's not a national holiday, it should be.  Nothing is more important than the peaceful transfer of power we have every 4 years.

While the President doesn't have absolute power in our government, he does set the agenda.  Who we choose to lead this country is an important decision, one that will have ramifications throughout our society for a generation.  Do you think that's an exaggeration?  Think about Supreme Court justices, appointed for life, who may serve for 20 or 30 years.  Think about sweeping reforms - The New Deal, The Great Society, Obamacare - that change the lives of millions.  Think about the big mistakes - Watergate, The Iraq War, Trickle Down Economics - that haunt us for decades.  This is an important decision, best taken seriously.  This is why the efforts by some to limit the right to vote is a serious threat to our democracy.

Down ballot issues are also important, of course.  In Nebraska, we have an ill-conceived effort to put a protection for hunting rights into our state constitution.  In my opinion, this is just a grandstand ploy to get people all wound up about something that's not really a problem - very similar to the "voter fraud" that we keep hearing about (that doesn't really exist).  There is NO chance that Nebraska will decide to outlaw hunting at any time in the foreseeable future, but that doesn't stop some politicians from trying to make hay talking about it.  We shouldn't clutter our constitution with this nonsense.  We also shouldn't send Deb Fischer to the U.S. Senate, although I suspect we will.

As far as the presidential race goes, I guess it is no secret I think it's important to send Barack Obama back to the white house. While I don't agree with everything he's done, he's done enough to merit my vote - particularly when compared to Mitt Romney.  As nearly as I can tell, Romney has no core principles - he's willing to take whatever stand he thinks will curry favor with the voters.