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Aug 7, 2004 The media seems to be on a polling frenzy to find what special interest group is for whom. Since I’m usually a little skeptical of such polling, I went out on the street to obtain my own data. My first stop was at the local strip mall where I buy my groceries. As I was leaving my car a lady with five children ages 2, 5, 6, 8 and 10. The lady was trying to stuff two cartloads of groceries and five screaming kids into a mini-van. I asked if I offered to help would she participate in my survey. She agreed, said she would do damn near any thing to get help with her rotten-kids. I thought for a moment and said I’ll do the groceries, you do the kids. I asked a few inconsequential questions then asked, are you more likely to vote for John Kerry or for George W. Bush [I put it that way to make it sound professional]. She said without hesitation she was voting for Kerry. She said Kerry was offering free birth control pills. The ten year old spoke up and said he and the other kids were for President Bush, he was going to come take them away from her. I ask what he meant. You know no child left behind; we’re going to live in the White House. One for Kerry five for Bush, I thought this is a good start. Next I went inside the grocery store. I approached an elderly couple arguing over tomatoes. I asked, who are you more likely to vote for, She said Kerry/Edwards. She thought they were very attractive young couple. He said she doesn’t know anything, we’re voting for Bush. We like all those old people he has around him. As I walked away she whispered Kerry to me. I counted that as one for Kerry, one for Bush and two undecided. Next door to the grocery store is an upgrade barbershop. A rather distinguished looking gentleman was getting a haircut and a manicure. I asked the same question. Who will you vote for? The customer said he was voting for Bush, he isn’t taxing me into poverty. A rather busty young manicurist with a lot of cleavage leaned a little further over her customer and said she was voting Kerry/Edwards, she thought they were adorable. The barber just gave a dumb smirk and shrugged. I count that as one Kerry, one Bush and one undecided. It was time to move on. I stopped by the local Parish; I hadn’t been to confession for a while. [Actually I had never been to confession]. The Priest asked me to confess my sins. I said I don’t have any that I knew of. I just wanted to know who you intend to vote for in November? Why President Bush of course, he said. He’s for life as God created it. President Bush is a man of faith although be it the wrong faith. I heard a whisper in my other ear. It was God he said make that two for Bush. Our local Park is always a place to find interesting people. I approached two elderly gentlemen. I put the question of whom they would vote come November. The first said he was voting for Kerry/Edwards. You need men with hair, you take a man with hair and he’s intelligent. The other man spoke up. He said, "Harry you got hair and your dumb as a post." Now you take a bald man, he has nothing to worry about, people accept them as they are, warts and all. They aren’t pretty, they're smart. The first man spoke up, how would you know Tom, you're not very smart or pretty. I decided not to bother counting these two. I left them as I found them arguing over much to do about nothing. This polling isn’t what I expected it to be. I thought you ask a question and you get an answer. I began to respect those pollsters more than I had before. Actually, I was no closer to an answer than when I started. I had no clear vision of who was leading in their bid for the highest office in the land. Much as I hate it, I guess I’ll just have to wait until the votes are counted. Sometimes that doesn’t even work. I began to wonder if the voters really knew what they’re voting for? The Founding Fathers felt voting should be limited to those with enough knowledge to make rational decisions. At the outset of our Republic much of the countries population was excluded from voting. We’ve moved forward from those days. We’ve discovered Women, Blacks, Chinese, and Indians, in fact all citizens over 18 years are intelligent enough or at least should have the opportunity to vote. If we can just convince the general public voting is not only a privilege, it’s a duty. Then can we choose the best men for the job every four years and not be subject to this ridiculous charade we continually go through. ------------ About the Author: Ken Hughes is a retired businessman. A political junkie who's passion is the re-education of Liberals and Term Limits for Congress. He has had very little sucess at either. Email Ken Hughes: uncleken@sbcglobal.net Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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