Who did I vote for?

A question that has often come up in the past 7 years, is "Who did you vote for?" And I must admit, I am ashamed by my truth. But I feel it is an important one, so I share it here.

I voted for Bush the first time.

I remember saying back when Bush first ran, "I don't believe he can do the kind of damage in four years that you are talking about, and I want a safer America, so I will vote for Bush." I now look back and wish I had never participated in giving baby Bush and his cronies that kind of power. I regret my vote and wish I had taken more time to educate myself and gone less on political sound bites.
The second time there was only one voting booth in my area which was populated by hundreds of thousands. I remember wishing I had left my registration where I grew up, in an upper middle class suburbean area, because then I could vote in one of many ballot areas, in safe neighborhoods. As it was, I was expected to sit in an electric wheelchair on a street where gang activity was high and wait in a long line in order to vote. This happened all over the U.S.

This time around I will be registered to write in my vote on an absentee ballot. I will educate myself, as I am already striving to do, and will vote based on a wide range of my beliefs, not just on the fear I was voting from when Bush first went up for office.

Now John McCain is trying to use those same fear tactics. He also seems to be buying into and now selling the same warped version of patriotism that Bush has promoted since he came into office. I hope people are not fooled. It is American to speak up for what is right, and to be a democratic nation. True patriotism is not being a yes man, but being your own person. I hope everyone will take some time to learn the various candidates views and will vote based on the bigger picture, and their own beliefs.