United States Politics

   Since politics, and specifically the presidential election, is going to be all we hear about in the states for the next couple of months, I've decided I'm going to weigh in on what I think of the election.

   A lot of the discussion we see on the television and through the sources available to us on the internet show the two candidates trading words about fixing the economy.  To me, it seems like this is because the two other major topics of this election (gay marriage & abortion) are not only too controversial, but also because, for the most part, people's minds are so stubbornly made up on both topics.  The candidates have a chance at convincing you that their economic plan is the best, but no gay or lesbian person is going to vote for the Republican (Conservative), Romney, who holds the anti-gay position.  Likewise, no strongly motivated anti-gay person will vote for the Democrat (Liberal), Obama, because he supports legalizing gay marriage.

   A similar thing is true in abortion.  Most people are, for whatever reason, be it religion, experience, or personal morality, either strongly pro or anti abortion.  It would take a lot of work to persuade anybody to change their view on this topic.  A LOT.  To politicians, it's just not worth the effort.  They'll preach the righteousness of their view to their own supporters, but they don't expect to see anybody changing their mind on these topics.

   Since it seems like the vast majority of the country takes issue on at least one of these two topics in one direction or the other, a lot of the campaigning both candidates are doing will be rendered moot.  Strongly religious people who follow the bible's anti-gay approach to marriage will vote for Romney.  They won't be convinced otherwise.  And the gay, lesbian, etc. population of the country will all vote for Obama.

   There are, therefore, two things that will decide the election.  The first is the very small part of the population that takes no strong stance on either gay marriage or abortion, and therefore needs to look at the economy to make their decision.  The second is voter turnout in November.  How many voters come to the polls to have their voices heard, how many from each side, that is what's going to decide the election.