How I Will Vote

I do not watch political ads on television. I have seen them before, and I was afflicted by them while trying to watch special coverage of Hurricane Sandy last week. I am not swayed by negative ads. I am appalled by them. All of them.

Data point for voting: A candidate is only as honorable as his or her worst political attack ad, no matter who funds it.

I have caller ID. I don’t answer the phone during political season. My voting intentions are my business. I don’t respond to polling surveys.

I do not respond to the barrage of political letters and solicitations that bury my mailbox. I mourn the loss of the trees that had to be slaughtered. I do recycle without reading.

Data point for voting: I consider an incumbent’s entire voting record. I am not impressed if an incumbent’s voting pattern changes to accommodate the coming election.

I do not make decisions on referendums, initiatives and propositions without understanding the motives and identities of the sponsors.

Data point for voting: Newspaper editorial writers are no better informed on candidates and issues than the rest of us. I do not make voting decisions based on newspaper endorsements.

Notice to political profilers: Just because I subscribe to a particular magazine doesn’t mean mailings from a particular political party or candidate will appeal to me. My subscription to Poetry Magazine does not mean I am a Democrat.

I do read, and I read across the political spectrum. I value a well-reasoned, well-supported argument. I have spent my entire career in public relations, so I know what is positioning, what is spin, and what is staging. I know when I’m being messaged. I know when I’m hearing talking points. I know when legitimate questions are ignored. All of that tells me a lot about political handlers, but it also tells me about candidates. And none of that is good.

I am not a Republican.

I am not a Democrat.

I am not an independent.

I am not a conservative.

I am not a liberal.

I am not a moderate.

I am not a Boomer, Gen-X, millennial or any other nice demographic category. And I don’t like being labeled.

You might think I’m generally conservative until the discussion turns to the death penalty and gun control.

But I do vote. And you can’t take my vote for granted.

There is one thing you need to know about me, and it is the most important thing.

I am a child of God.

Photograph by Petr Kratochvil via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.