Please Vote Tuesday (special note to Virginia voters)

In case anyone forgets, Tuesday is election day across the US. And I have to say that I will be very happy to have it done with finally! Being in Northern Virginia, we have been hit by television ads for not one but two states for whom the senate race is extremely close - here in Virginia and in nearby Maryland (with whom we share a tv market).

I really wonder if anyone truly believes political ads. The spin is incredible…both candidates distorting the others views (and yes, I saw some distortion in the Jim Webb's ads (I am sure that Allen is not against funding bullet proof jackets for our military) but have to admit that in my opinion, George Allen was way more hypocritical and desperate…in one ad saying that he wants to "stick to the issues" and then in another ad attacking Jim Webb because of sex scenes in his fictional novels. And Allen wants us to think that he shares John Warner's position on the war? Please, Warner at least has a back bone and will go against Bush when he feels that Bush is wrong. Can't say anything like that for Allen who just plays the party line…but I digress…can you tell that Allen really irritates me? I could go on for awhile but I will stop now and save you all from a major rant.) One more thing for Virginia voters…please, please take a close look at proposed Constitutional Amendment 1…and please vote no. Even if you are opposed to gay marriage, this amendment goes way beyond gay marriage and will have implications for any unmarried couple. Marriage is already "defined" in Virginia and this amendment won't gay marriage any more illegal or change anything…other then creating who knows what future issues as well as writing discrimination into our state constitution. Read the second part closely:

This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage."

This amendment could stop businesses in Virginia from being allowed to offer health benefits to unmarried people (not just gay people here folks, any unmarried person) and bar people in unmarried relationships from going to court to enforce any financial or other agreements. Even if you are opposed to gay marriage, this amendment goes way too far and it is way to vague (actually it goes way to far just in "defining marriage" which I feel is just ridiculous but it is getting late so I will let it go at that for now…).

So be sure to take time to vote…to tie this into homeschooling…don't forget to take your kids and talk about what you are doing and why!