I try not to talk about politics too often. I usually limit it to certain family members and my wife. This is mostly because there is usually no good that will come from it, "never talk about politics or religion" and all of that. However, I feel a need to explain how I am thinking and feeling about this upcoming election. I don't know why, I just think it is important.
For most of my life politics just did not interest me all that much. I was and am a closet science geek. this meant that the only times I would pay any attention to an election would be when they were talking about the manned space program or science research or medicine and health care. I was upset when Bush was elected the first time, mostly because he and the GOP are no friends to science, or to the general search for knowledge and truth in general.
After 4 years and the tragedy of 9/11 I was much more in tune with the issues, especially those pertaining to civil liberties and freedom. When Bush was put in office a second time, I was horrified. Mostly because the party that put him in the office used fear and ignorance as their main tools for getting him elected, and over the next four years they fostered the idea that ignorance was a good thing and that questioning authority was unpatriotic and should be silenced.
Unfortunately, this is not the same country it was 8 years ago. I used to be able to say that free speech was inviolate in this country. I can't say that anymore. I used to be able to say that my country is not a country that would torture people, that we have due process in this country and, in fact, we would fight countries that would practice such evil. I can't say those things anymore either. I used to think that despite its flaws, our government had the best interests of its people at heart, all of it's people, not just the wealthiest 1%. I don't think that anymore. It is sad how far away from what people used to think America stood for that we have come.
Face it, most people would agree that anyone, and I mean literally anyone, would be better as president than what we have had to put up with for the last 8 years. I also know that McCain is an experienced politician who has a lot of good qualities. Yet, there is no way in the world I could vote for someone who is supported by a party that actually fosters the notion in its followers that ignorance is a good thing. A party that teaches its followers that questioning authority is somehow unamerican. Ignorance should not be considered a badge of honor. Silence should not be considered patriotic. I've got news for those people who would try to keep us from knowing and stop us from speaking. This nation was founded on dissent and the questioning of authority. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Paine, and the rest of the architects of the American Revolution told their sovereign king, the man they swore a solemn oath to obey, the man they swore to die for if necessary, to piss off. These men weren't part of the United States, it hadn't been invented yet. These men were British citizens actively committing treason. Do you know why they chose to commit treason against their own country? Because these men of genius had rediscovered an often forgotten truth; Loyalty is a wonderful thing, but it is a road that runs both ways. The king, or the government, must be worthy and work hard for the loyalty of their people and not just expect that loyalty as their right. Our leaders should not be dictating to us, we should be dictating to them, and if they try to silence us, then we should get rid of them. To paraphrase one of my heroes from the American revolution, Thomas Paine, "If your government won't give you your basic rights, it's time to get another government." (Thanks, School House Rock!)
This is why I consider the leaders of the GOP to be the ones who have broken faith with the ideals of America. Because they know this truth as well as anyone and yet they still foster this idea amongst their followers that they are somehow being bad when they question their policies and ideas. This tells me that they are fully aware that what they are doing is wrong and that they would prefer their followers to not watch them too closely and just keep their mouths shut. This is about as low a thing they could do to American citizens as I can imagine. There is nothing more American and patriotic than to question authority. Don't ever forget that.
That is why I will be voting for Obama. He seems to know and understand that knowledge and the quest for knowledge has value, and that hiding our heads in the sand and claiming things are true despite all evidence to the contrary is both stupid and dangerous. If we can get him elected I will have hope still for the country that I so dearly love. Because I know that even though our system of government has a few flaws (two party system, the electoral college, etc) it is still far and away the best system on this planet and has been crucial in providing those of us fortunate enough to live here the best and greatest country in the world.

On a more personal note, my wife, who is one of the smartest people I know, especially in terms of common sense, pointed this out to me;
Ten years ago we lived in a country without a deficit. It was a country that most foreigners loved and respected. Ten years ago we bought our first house and sold it a couple years later for a substantial profit that allowed us to buy our current 4 bedroom colonial. We were saving quite a bit of money into our bank account and our young family was doing very well.
Now fast forward eight years to 2008 ... the country's deficit is the highest it has ever been and most foreigners hold us in contempt. My wife and I as a couple make almost twice what we made eight years ago yet we aren't saving any money because of rising mortgage and living costs, our house is worth less than it did 8 years ago and we can't even get a simple construction loan to put a playroom on to our house for our growing children. Despite all of this, I know that we are some of the lucky ones. I can't imagine what some people are having to go through right now just to survive. No, the past 8 years have not been good for this country. For myself, I am hoping and praying for a change. Good luck to all of us tomorrow.