Progressive Minds

Exactly one week from today, Americans will hopefully take "their souls to the polls" (to borrow a phrase from Rev. Jesse Jackson).  And hopefully, they will do so in massive numbers.

So what are my main two wishes for next Tuesday?

1. I hope to see people going into the voting booth, determined to vote FOR, not against, their own best interests. I've never understood why someone would vote against their own economic or other interests.  Now, more than ever, it's important that everyone educate themselves on where the candidates stand, and not just pull the lever for someone, simply because of the letter they have next to their name.  If you have a son or daughter in Iraq, why vote for a member of Congress who refuses to provide oversight over an Administration that fixed the facts around the policy, and has failed to provide the proper body arm to your child?

If your family cannot make it above the poverty line, and you're working two or three jobs to stay afloat, why vote for a member of Congress who doesn't believe the minimum wage needs to be raised?

2.  My second wish, is that everyone will educate themselves on their rights at the voting booth.  I have no doubt that there are forces in this country, who don't want to see certain voters showing up next Tuesday to make their voices heard.  I have no doubt that there will be numerous attempts to suppress certain voters.  And the greatest rebuke to that, is to know what your rights are when you enter that voting booth.  For example, if you live in a state like Georgia where a federal judge has struck down a controversial voter ID law, you need to know about that, in case someone attempts to challenge your right to vote, because you don't have certain IDs. 

There have been recent court challenges to new voting ID laws; so know where any court case in your state stands.  Know your rights.

Those are my two wishes for next Tuesday: 1) vote FOR your own best intersts and 2) educate yourself on your rights at the voting booth.