Everything That's On My Mind

...another political season. Tonight, Iowans meet in caucuses to anoint two presidential nominees. On Tuesday the people of New Hampshire will do their part, then we Michiganders join the fray the following Tuesday.

[General political ranting redacted.]

I tried to write this post a few different times, but each time it sounded angry and/or sarcastic. I'm a bit jaded when it comes to politics. Scratch that...I'm very jaded, but I still believe it is our responsibility as Americans and as Christians to participate in the process. I have no illusions about the process. It's hopelessly flawed and corrupt. That makes it difficult to get motivated, and that's probably one of the reasons the USA has such pitiful voter turnout numbers compared to the rest of the democratic world.

For me, voting is more of a personal spiritual discipline: to prayerfully and thoughtfully determine how I should cast my vote. I don't really care who wins or loses. If I'm backing a losing horse, so be it. My responsibility, especially in presidential elections, is to vote for the person I truly believe would be the best leader for our country, regardless of whether he's "electable". That doesn't make the decision easier, but it does allow me to avoid some compromises.

Both Keith Schooley and Ben Witherington have recently posted good lists of suggestions for primary voters. I can't really add anything useful to what they've written, but I can provide a few resources for research. The League of Women Voters generally provides good, non-partisan information regarding the candidates, although they are sometimes a bit limited in the questions they ask. You may also consult their Michigan and Oakland County branches for more local information when the time comes. I've recently found OnTheIssues.org to be a good resource for information on candidates as well. Finally, FactCheck.org applies a healthy dose of truth serum to political advertising.

So my advice is to do some research, do some praying, vote for the best man (or woman) you see on the list and don't worry who wins or loses. No matter who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Boulevard, God's still on the throne.