An equal opportunity voter.

I would like to go back to the good old days of voting for the candidate and not the party. I use to do that you know. It worked better that way for me.

So, below is a list of issues I would prefer a candidate to get behind and make happen.

More jobs provided by building roads, bridges, and railroads.
Affordable health care for all.
More scholarships to public colleges.
More fire fighters and police officers.
More public school teachers.
Smaller classrooms in public school.
Develop more renewable energy sources.
Import less petroleum products.
Limit pollution from coal fired generators.
More health clinics for the working poor.

Now, if you are a local, state, or congressional candidate and would be willing to put your career on the line for at least seven of the ten issues posted above, I will certainly vote for you. Whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, Capitalist, Environmentalist, Rotatarian, Hindu, Baptist, OB, or GYN. I will vote for you. You can bet on it.

We need less Black and White and more color.

Why do we think in such extremes? Why is everything these days so black and white. All or nothing? Good or bad. Leaving not much in the middle.

In political terms, if a candidate has only one issue we might disagree with, he or she is written off. No longer a “Lockstepper.” Out the door. No longer considered as a viable candidate. A trader or heretic. Suddenly becoming an evil person. Only because he or she has one or two differing views than what we have. Otherwise, agreeing on most issues.

Have we run out of wiggle room? Couldn’t a candidate be allowed space to have his or her own opinion? I voted for Nixon and Reagan twice each but, there were policies I didn’t care for in each administrations. None the less, I voted for them both regardless.

Case in point here is Indiana’s Senator Richard Lugar. A man trying to work with both sides of the aisle. A man willing to compromise occasionally to get things done. What’s wrong with that.

None the less, Lugar was voted out by his state’s Republican party in favor of a more extreme, non-compromising TEA Party candidate. Sending the state further into a Black and White divide. Thus Lugars state has lost a great statesman and politician. A man who could work with most people and ideals. What a shame.

Didn’t Jesus or one of the Apostles suggest to do all things in moderation? So, where’s the moderation? Why must we insist on extremes? We only defeat ourselves by being so extreme. Not much gets done in a hostel black and white environment. Back off. Chill out. Go to your corner and take ten deep breaths.

Both sides now.

I consider myself a moderate. Taking the middle path. Looking at both sides of an issue is what I attempt to do. I am fair. I am balanced. I let each side give its case. Just blind justice at work. That’s me. A diehard moderate. “Stuck in the middle with you.”

So, I step back and allow both sides to demonstrate their respective arguments. So what is the upside and downside to each position? But in the final analysis I must make a decision. So having to make my choice, one side wins and one side loses. Finally, don’t blame me. I am just exercising common sense and logic. I am the rational voice. Mr. in between.

However, there are those who call my decision formula, bias. Favoring the opposition. Well, if that’s the way you think, then call me bias. Even though it was an honest attempt to make a rational decision. A decision based on what I and sometimes others think is right and fair.

So in the end, I come down in the middle. I am neither a vegetarian or a carnivore. I love my broccoli with pork roast. Veggie spaghetti sauce? Meat spaghetti sauce? I love them both. Red bell pepper or a Twinkie. Both seem fine to me.

I know it is better for one’s health to be a 100-percent vegetarian but look at all the great flavors one could be mission. If only there was a veggie stir fry that tasted like smoked beef ribs. Or, only if there was a triple bypass double cheese burger that had calorie and fat count that of steamed broccoli. Well, it doesn’t hurt to engage in wishful thinking. Does it?? But anyway, just eat everything in moderation. Count calories. A little of this. And a little of that. It’s only fair and balanced. Bon Apatite!

Now, where is my double cheese veggie burger??