A Confession ...

For the record, I don't talk politics ... So, I'm not one to get in a heated debate over a potential President (or Vice President for that matter).

As my previous post implied, I wasn't particularly thrilled with either of my choices this year ... And things haven't been much different in the past. I just can't understand all of the venom that is launched from either side of party lines in defense of a candidate. I mean, we are talking about people here ... Human beings. No human that I know of is infallible ... Not even the Pope (in my mind) and I'm Catholic!

So, this year was no different for me. I tried to research the issues and the proposed policies, keep things to myself, and (finally!) vote. My opinion is my own, I don't expect others to agree with me, and I have no qualms about keeping that information to myself.

What can I say? I'm stubborn ... And a good secret-keeper.

Despite making this point very clear, I don't think that I could count the number of times one student or another has asked me: "So, who did you vote for?" over the past two days since the election.

"I don't talk politics," has been my faithful reply. "Besides, I'm an Independent anyway."

Yet, for some reason, I feel like I can be honest here and say that, in the end, my vote went to John McCain. I admit this because I am troubled by some of the misconceptions and generalizations I see thrown around about those people that didn't vote for Barack Obama.

No, I'm not a Republican robot ... I like to form my opinion issue by issue, not because a group of seasoned politicians dictates what I should believe.

No, I'm not a racist ... I'm extremely excited at the reality of an African-American President. Maybe it will inspire some of my students of minority descent to get off their lazy butts and do something positive for their education and their future!

No, I'm not a Bible thumping pro-lifer ... While I would never abort my own baby (regardless of the circumstance), I believe that others should be able to make their own choices.

No, I'm not driven by fear ... The world today is a scary place, but I have to believe that people are good at their cores and that good will overcome evil. I also think that there is something to be said of "on the job training." While my first teaching job was hell because it was just that, I learned a lot and am a better person for it. Who is to say the Presidency can't function in the same manner?

No, I'm not happy with the status quo ... I agree that it is time for a change!

(Does that cover them all?)

To tell you the truth, I'm just selfish.

When it came down to it, I felt that John McCain would be more friendly to the small business owners (those in the $200,000 and above income range). That friendliness, and resultant lack of taxation, would selfishly help me by allowing my husband to continue his fruitful employment at a small business. There would be no lull in jobs to work on, no layoffs either ... Just gainful employment for the next four years while he returns to school and I rake in a teacher's wage.

That was it.

Honestly, that was the defining bit of information that swung my vote in its particular direction. So, I resent reading in other blogs and various forums, that all of the John McCain voters are inherently bad people ... Or just people that are just so stuck in their tired, old-fashioned ways that they are afraid of something different.

That's not me.

I'm just selfish.