Voting: not just a choice, it's a responsibility.

Years ago, a few men and women believed that people were born with some dignity and the ability to control their own lives and should have a voice in how their lives were directed by their government. Those men, unorganized by modern standards, ill-equipped by any standard and with virtually no money or supplies, fought a war against people who were not only soldiers of the King of England, but also represented the real enemy: the idea that people need and want to have their lives directed by others.

Fast forward 230 years to me sitting on my sofa writing this post. I'm listening to the audio from a radio show that aired the day the Iraq war started. The tension of that day is now also replayed in my mind as I remember standing in the Communications building on my college campus between classes watching the news as the first missiles were fired. A few days later, I stood in that same lobby and watched as Shock and Awe began. The fear still fresh from the September 11, 2001 attacks, it was believed that new attacks would follow this mission. It seemed almost certain.

As I look back on that day, I see now that while we moved in the right direction that day, we did not move there in the right way. We were too cautious, far too concerned about the way that we would be perceived. The country began the conflict with thoughts of not how to defeat the enemy, but rather how we could help our image in the world. We went there with no intention of the problems we have now, but we did not prepare for the possibility that our new, more friendly warfare would not produce the results we had desired.

We entered this war on a false premise...not the premise that WMD's were there, or that we could gain oil or whatever hair-brained arguments are out there. We entered this conflict on the false premise that a softer, politically correct, media involved and more friendly war would win the hearts and minds of the people we had show up to help. We entered on the false premise that a people, as a whole, can be changed by talking and negotiating. We entered on the false premise that there are ways to win a war that don't involve complete and undeniable victory.

The US and her allies forgot the important fact that militant Islam believes that to survive is to win.

So today, people are going to the polls. The media has shown a very dim and dismal picture of the war. That depressing image is reflected in the polls, and the sentiment seems to be that people just want change. They don't even seem to care where that change comes from, just the idea that we have to do something different.

There is an important question to be asked here: What are you wanting to change?

Republicans have let down their constituents. They have pandered to the liberal mindset for far too long. Unfortunately, no Conservatives seem to be available to step up and actually lead as conservatives, so even if Democrats gain control of the congress, will anything change?

Well, the simple answer is yes, despite what they are saying. I know that leading democrats are saying that there will be no impeachment hearings... there will be no pulling out, no raising the taxes but their record is clear.

There was a commentator yesterday who noted that democrats will not impeach President Bush until they run out of things to do that they agree on, and that as soon as that happens, they will have to do something.

They won't have to raise taxes, they just won't renew the tax cuts. That simple.

On Iraq? Do I even need to re-state their position?

So, are things bad? Yes, I think they are. I will concede that the leadership of the Republican party has been weak and ineffective, but I don't think that changing directions is the way to go. Instead, we should be telling the people who say they stand for our values that we want to seem them ACTUALLY standing up for our values.

Our soldiers throughout the history of this country all the way back to the American Revolution have fought with the freedom to choose in mind. We owe it to them to choose responsibly.