Diary of a Democratic Delegate - Some Non-Partisan Wisdom

I am clearly a partisan advocate, and I will be holding forth along those lines soon, but I thought today I would share some non-partisan "wisdom" I picked up in my nearly 50 years as a political junkie.  . . FIRST AND FOREMOST, VOTE!  -- Mayor Hubbard used to put a duck on his literature with the line, "if you don't vote, don't squawk," and he was right. . . .Second, if you are legally able (over age 60, planning to be out of town on Election Day, etc.), CAST AN EARLY VOTE. You can still do so by visiting the City Clerk's office at City Hall - and voting the ballot right there. If you have applied for a so-called AV (absentee voter) ballot and it was mailed to you, VOTE NOW to ensure it gets back by Tuesday. Be sure you put enough postage on the return envelope (I think it is 65 cents), or better yet, drop it off yourself at City Hall. . . .Thirdly, if you are voting in person Tuesday, BE PREPARED.  Know the location (it may have changed) and the hours (7 am to 8 pm). Because the ballot is so long - four pages - expect lines.  The best way to prepare is to actually look at your ballot. You can go to www.publius.org  - and enter your name and city - and you can actually see what will be on the ballot in your precinct. It also has links that will provide information on campaign finance and other useful data. This is particularly important as you consider the confusing state and county ballot issues. . . The Secretary of State has also encouraged voters to go to www.michigan.gov/vote, where, if you enter your name, birthday and zip code, you can access your actual ballot and also track if you voted absentee, and your ballot has been returned. . . .PROCESS MATTERS ASIDE, here are a few suggestions as to how to decide HOW to vote. . . .First, IGNORE ALL THE ADS, particularly the late ones. The only relevant issue to me on these ads is "who is paying for them...and why?" As your instincts tell you, follow the money. . . .Second, don't be swayed by a SINGLE ISSUE. We elect leaders to work together on a wide range of issues, not just serve as a "no" vote on this issue or that issue. . . . Third, listen to everyone, forcing yourself to consider all angles. Don't stay glued to either Fox News or MSNBC - watch them both, at least occasionally, and MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND? . . . .Fourth, vote "for" your candidate not "against" the other guy or gal. It simply isn't healthy to carry around such negativism, and, besides, you may have to live with your choice. . . FINALLY, VOTE FOR YOURSELF and your own  interests. Both Presidential candidates will be OK whatever happens, but America and its 300 million plus citizens will have to live with the policies of the winning candidates. .  . I may not always agree with an election outcome, but I have confidence that almost always, voters do the right thing. Good luck Tuesday!