President?

Okay, so I have kept my mouth shut for a long time on all the presidential election stuff, but I just can't keep quiet anymore.  I thought that I would just throw this out there for people to think about....be informed and choose the best candidate for you....but when doing so think about the issues that mean the most to you.  For me, in no special order, what matters most to me are the following:

1. Women's and Gay Rights Issues - I believe in marriage equality...and yes that means that I believe that the GLBT community should have the same rights as me and my husband do.  The same rights as all heterosexual couples have.  Legally, Marriage is a legal, binding contract.  Anyone over the age of 18 can enter into a contract - this includes the Civil Union of two individuals who love and respect each other and want to show a commitment to one another just as I have with my husband. I believe that the government has no right to tell a couple who they can love and who they can enter into the contract of marriage with.  The constitution of the United States allows (in fact dictates) the separation between Church and State.  Therefore, we don't need elected officials telling us who we can and cannot love and who we can and cannot marry.  - I don't want an elected official who believes in passing laws that take us back to the 1800 and early 1900's by limited who can and cannot enter into Marriage - it's not a government issue - it's a church issue. In addition, I don't want an elected official who believes in the repeal of Roe v. Wade and going back to the 1960's by making abortion illegal.  A woman should have the right to choose.  In today's world, we have more and more options available to us by way of contraception.  Circumstances do happen to people who try the best they can to practice safe sex.  By taking away the right for women on Medicaid to obtain birth control, we are limiting the woman's right to choose.  In addition, I do not feel that the Government has any right to push their interpretation of the bible on the rest of the country.  For me, my child was a miracle - and while it was difficult to be a single mother - I would have made the same choice over again.  For some though, they try everything that they can to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, but still they face a decision.  This decision should be theirs, not one by the Federal of State Governments. 

2. The Economy ~ The past has shown me that everytime we have elected officials who prescribe to the right-wing philosophy of economics and tax code, the people of this land have suffered in astronomical ways.  Under economic principles of the left-wing - especially during the 8 years of the Clinton Administration - we have experienced some of the most prosperous economic times of our lives.  I don't want 4 years of living under the principles and philosophies of a man who is out of touch with the working man and woman.  I work hard to provide for my family and under the Obama Administration, my husband went back work after 2 years of being unemployed.  I have had more oppurtunities come my way then ever before under Obama's plans.  The company that employs me is growing....and I am making the most money I have ever made in my life.  So when someone asks me - Are you better off under Obama?  My answer is Yes, obsolutely and I know a lot of other people are too - even if they don't really want to see it.  Do we have a lot more work to do?  Yes, and I don't think that either candidate can do everything that needs to be done to undo 8 years of George W. Bush and his "plans" for this country. 

3. Education - As a former teacher, I believe that the education plans of Mitt Romney are not going to help our future.  We need teachers who are qualified and we need teachers who can lose their jobs because they don't perform.  HOWEVER, I don't believe that standardized testing mandates are good for our children either.  My daughter has a learning disability. Her disability causes her to have trouble with reading and comprehension because her brain cannot process words the same way.  That doesn't make my child dumb and it doesn't indicate that she won't be successful.  In fact, verbally, my daughter is perhaps well more advanced then others in her grade.  I want there to be more help for children with disabilities.  And I want the school system to take responsibility for helping her learn.  I know she has a learning disability based on my experiences as an educator, but because she is not severe enough, she does not get classified as needing additional help.  This places her in a position to "fail" by the standards of the State and Federal Departments of  Education.  That needs to change. 

That's all for today.  It's time for me to be a mother and wife - gotta get some things marked off my todo list.  Have a great day y'all!