…it says so right on the sticker they gave me!

I Voted Sticker

This has been the first election in a very long time where it really felt important. Funny, that, since I am in a state where it pretty much a forgone conclusion who will win  our electoral votes.

I can’t tell you what, then makes me want to add my vote, but still I was in the “I have to do this” rather than “I really should do this” mode today.

I am not a one-issue voter. At the same time, I definitely put a lot of weight on issues affecting the disability community, especially the autism community.  Probably no surprise there.

I’ve been one of those “pale blue” people.  You know, like the maps at CNN where states “leaning” towards Senator Obama are pale blue.  That was right up until the last debate.  When Senator McCain brought autism front and center into the discussion, I got very interested.  Unfortunately for Senator McCain, I started watching and listening closely and I just wasn’t sold.

I knew that Senator Obama had a fairly thorough disabilities plan.  I didn’t know what Senator McCain had to offer, and I didn’t find much when I searched.   There are a lot of discussions of the two candidates out there already, so I won’t add to them here.

No matter what happens today, I am amazed.  I never thought I’d see the day when an African American would have a good shot at the White House. OK, if pressed, maybe I’d have thought that in 10 or 10 years, maybe.

Aside from the Presidential election, there were other issues that really caught my attention.  California has “proposition 8″ on the ballot.  This proposition would remove the newly won rights for gay and lesbian couples to marry.  For the life of me, I can’t see how allowing gay marriage is any threat to my marriage.  I’ve been avoiding TV lately, but recently I’ve watched and seen a barrage of commercials with sad faced little kids.  I guess they are supposed to be sad because they are being taught about gay marriage in school.  I checked with my family (who have older kids) and no one can recall of anyone ever being taught about marriage in schools.   Even if they did, so what?

Another type of issue that caught my attention is public transit.  California has a fast-train bill on the ballot, and there are other, local public transit issues as well.  Most have language framing them as “green” or helping us to gain independence from foriegn oil.  Those arguments didn’t sell me.  What did sell me is the view of, “there are people who can’t drive.”

I will say, in the end, dang, I’m glad this is over.  The presidential race, primaries and all, has just gone on too long.  I hope the result is worth it!