How would Jesus vote?

I'm not sure it's fair. But Sarah (Barracuda) Palin's church-going ways are getting lots of scrutiny. In the media. Newspapers. Television. Radio. All over. Maybe that should be private stuff. But hey, the media gave Barack Obama the same treatment. Now, it's Palin's turn. I think Obama withstood it quite well. We'll see if Palin does, too. Some folks tried to make out that Obama's spiritual/religious views are way out on the left. Well, now a case is being made that Palin is way out on the right. My. My. They both call themselves Christians. Goes to show there's quite a wide latitude in Christianity. I wonder if Jesus returned to Earth for a second visit if he'd approve of Christianity as we Earthlings practice it. Would he vote for the Obama-Biden ticket or for McCain-Palin? --Jim Broede

Yes, folks, I believe it.

"The Republicans," a letter-writer in the New York Times says, "are blowing the usual smoke to get working-class people to vote against their economic interest. Can you imagine Americans voting for John McCain to strike a blow against the wine-drinking, brie-eating coastal elites and denying themselves a decent health care system, a better economy and competent leadership? Believe it. It could happen."

Yes, folks, I believe it. --Jim Broede

The way we decide...

I don't think it's a good idea to vote for the sake of voting. Just because one has the privilege. Yes, maybe an ill-informed vote is a bad thing. But in a democracy, I guess, to vote is to vote is to vote. Like it's an automatic exercise. Robot-like. One is told to trek to the polls and cast a vote. For someone. Doesn't necessarily mean that one has to understand what or whom one is voting for. Many people are prodded into voting. Like rats in a maze. Just do as one is told. By a precinct worker. Or by a pundit on TV. Or by one's colleague. Or just because that's what an American citizen is supposed to do. Sometimes, voting is like joining a lynch mob. It seems like the right thing to do at the time. We vote against someone. Because we are told he's a bad guy. Maybe a communist. Or a socialist. Doesn't matter that it ain't true. Sometimes, we vote against a black guy. Only because he's black. We like the other guy's skin color better. Or we vote against someone because she's a woman. Doesn't really make sense. But hey, we are free to decide for ourselves. Maybe guys with blue eyes are evil. Or maybe he isn't a Christian, or the right kind of Christian, and therefore he doesn't deserve our vote. Funny thing, isn't it? The way we decide who gets our vote. --Jim Broede

Sounds plausible to me.

Maybe the Republican candidate for president of the United States plucked his running mate from relative obscurity because he's desperate for the moose-hunting vote, a columnist in the Chicago Tribune speculated. Yes, that does sound plausible. --Jim Broede

I live in an absurd America.

I think the absurd happens. Often. On a daily basis. That is, it's absurd to me. Others may think of it as normal. But then, maybe I'm abnormal in my outlook on life. The fact that we Americans have elected George Bush as our president. Not once. But twice. That's doubly absurd. And idiotic. And the fact that we Americans don't get royally piqued over the Iraq War. To the point of insisting that it be ended. Well, that's absurd, too. And downright stupid. And immoral. And that we Americans put up with the fact that we are the only industrialized nation in the world without universal health care. That's wildly absurd. And think of this. Polls show there's a fighting chance that the John McCain-Sarah Barracuda ticket could win in the November election. Which would mean, in essence, a third term of sorts for George Bush and the Republicans. Yes, no doubt about it. I live in an absurd America. --Jim Broede

...at my pessimistic worst.

I think I have no way to influence the outcome of world events. No way to change history in any significant way. But come to think of it, somebody insignificant occasionally pops up in history and maybe changes the course of a nation. Take Lee Harvey Oswald. The guy that shot John F. Kennedy. I think that event changed the course of America. Kennedy's death took the spirit out of so many liberals. Had it not happened, Kennedy most likely would have won a second term. Lyndon Johnson would never have become president. I think liberal ideas would have thrived. Instead, a pessimism overtook America. Allowing conservatism to snatch the day. And the nation became even more disillusioned with the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Liberals retreated to their cocoons. And conservatives filled up the political void. To the detriment of America. Now, I'm sensing a comeback of liberalism. With Barack Obama. But still, I'm not sure it's gonna happen. There'll be another disaster along the way. That's me...at my pessimistic worst. --Jim Broede

...with positive thoughts.

I like to occupy my mind with positive thoughts. Especially when something negative happens to me or around me. It's a way for me to take control. To keep myself upbeat. I'm doing that now. Because something negative happened. Something that years ago might have made me distraught. And glum. But I've learned to not let that happen. Instead, I focus on the positives going on in my life. Many, many positives. And that dilutes the negatives -- so that they don't seem too negative. So here I am. Having a relatively happy day. In fact, a day with some joyous moments. Some folks might think that I'm a naysayer. Because I'm a bit critical of unhappy people. I tell some people who are depressed to look for silver linings. And that can be annoying, I know. But still, I persist. By talking positively. I try to console with positive thoughts. --Jim Broede