I'm the vote every politician says they want.
I'm a woman.
I'm help run a small business.
I'm an educator.
My husband is an educator.
I'm a mother of three - two boys and a girl.
I'm from a military family.
I'm from a hunting family.
We just bought my son his first real gun at age 8.
I don't believe guns belong everywhere nor with everyone.
We are Christian.
We are fiscally conservative and responsible.
We pay off our debt.
We both work.
We aren't rich.
We aren't poor.
We send our kids to daycare, preschool, and public school.
I vote regularly.
I am a dog owner.
My in-laws have owned and ran a small business for 25 years.
My mom ran her own business now works in a school.
My dad is a lawyer.
I grew up in a rural community.
I now live in an "urban" community.
I abhor injustices that occur in society.
We regularly donate to the food bank and spend time with at-risk youth.
I believe all are equal under the laws of the country regardless of sexual preference, religious views, or skin color.
I recycle. And teach my kids to recycle.
I believe people should be taught how to use the resources they are given whether they are earned through a job or provided as part of an assistance program.
I believe the death of any child in any circumstance is wrong, abortion included, and struggle with understanding how it can occur but have incredible sympathy for the woman and couples that feel they have to make that choice.
I don't believe lobbyist should determine the results of an election but rather inform the electorate.
According to most politicians, I'm who they say they want. But I'm not who they cater to. I'm not extreme. I'm middle of the road. I'm representative of the majority of America. The polarized America now. No one is fighting for our desire to live safely and happily in this country.
I've had several campaign workers stop by the house. It usually goes like this:
Decent looking 20-something campaign worker: "Hi, I'm with so-so's campaign. Is Ryan home?"
Me: "Nope, he's not. He's coaching his daughters softball team right now."
Worker: "Oh. Okay. Well we would love to talk to him about our candidate."
Me: "Oh okay. Well I'm not sure when he'll be back."
Worker: "Okay. We'll swing back around."
(They leave. I stand dumbfounded.)
What about me? What about my opinion? Don't you want my vote?
Apparently not.
See you on election day.
