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Every year news media outlets talk about the top 10 news stories or the top 10 events of the previous year--The Top 10 is a popular way to close out the old year, and ring in the new. Of course, 2007 is no different--we are hearing about the top 10 news stories, the top 10 deaths, the top 10 movies, the top 10 songs, the top 10 gadgets...This year, I decided to take a different approach in looking at the New Year. 2008 is a crucial election year. We are electing every member of the United States House of Representatives, some Senators and a President-across the country local governments will elect officials in state governments, we will elect people to the respective state legislatures and there will be countless local elections. 2008 promises to be an historic year--a woman and a black are a heartbeat away from being President. Because of the historical significance of this year's elections, I want to give the top 10 reasons to vote in 2008. In coming up with this idea I thought about Iraq. In Iraq, over 70% of the people voted-at risk of death. In our country we vote without fear of retribution, and without personal risk. So in light of 08 being an election year, here are my top 10 reasons to vote: 10. The primary process stinks-everyone running for president is in a mad rush to end the primary process by February. The primary process starts too early, and both the Republican and the Democratic Party need to reform the process to ensure that everyone has a chance to have their voice heard. What about a national primary election day? We can have one Super Tuesday in March and then an election day in November. The primary process stinks, and until you vote for leaders who will change the process--well, the process will remain the same because our leaders know you don't care. 9. Washington bickering-Republicans and Democrats, mostly Republicans, are polarizing the system and demonstrating why Washington is out of touch with the common American. When Senator Bill Frist was in charge he talked about the nuclear option, the option to abolish the filibuster. Now Republicans are using the filibuster in their block and blame game. Republicans wanted it their way when they were in the majority, now that they cannot have it their way they are using the filibuster to block any legislation that does not fit with their agenda--it is the Republican way or the highway. It is time to put a Democrat in the White House, and give the Democrats a majority in both houses--if the Democrats fail to do the job under these circumstances...well, you have the power of the vote and you can fire them. 8. Abortion and gay marriage-Republicans want less government on their own terms and more government on their own terms.Talk about hypocrisy... 7. The Benazir Bhutto assassination. Recent headlines read that Al Qaida and the Taliban were blamed for Bhutto’s assassination. Regardless of whether this is true, it begs the question: Are we really winning the war on terror? 6. The war on terror isn't working-Taliban and Al Qaeda are alive and well. Osama bin Laden made recent statements declaring war on Israel, and that he wants blood for blood. We have not captured Osama bin Laden, the Taliban is experiencing a resurgence in Afghanistan, and there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. When will we wake up to the sham that this President is giving us demanding instead a leader who will propose a meaningful and effective strategy for the war on terror? 5. Crime, we are not safe our streets. This morning I woke up to a headline "16 year old girl stabbed..." What about Virginia Tech? We are being given lip service on crime. 4. Healthcare-The first shot in Michael Moore's Sicko is of a man stitching his knee with a needle and thread in his living room. He has no health insurance. Whatever you think about Sicko (and there are many detractors who criticize the movie) why are we letting people remain uninsured in our country? Why isn't health care a top priority in our nation? The President's continual veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program is an insult to the American public If we can spend millions on private security contractors in Iraq, why can't we find the money to improve health care at home? 3. Blackwater USA--we pay private security contractors millions to do the job our troops were trained to do. While companies like Blackwater get rich, our troops are paid little, they risk their lives without the proper combat tools, and many who return home fall through the health care cracks not getting the health care they need after serving our country. Does anyone remember the Walter Reed scandal? We cannot even take care of our troops. 2. It's the economy stupid-With the mortgage market tanking, are we seeing the economy teetering on the brink of a recession? The President failed to propose and pass meaningful Immigration reform, and he sits in the Oval Office while his oil rich friends get richer. We can survive the mortgage crisis, with sound financial planning. We can reduce the largest deficit given to us in American history. We can change the tax structure in America, passing a system of fair taxation. We can stop a recession from happening. However, we can only do these things by electing responsible people to office. Guess what? The power of change lies with you, and your vote. 1. You should be mad as hell and you should not take it anymore. Washington is out of touch with your values. It is us against the Washington establishment. I know I am mad as hell and I am going to vote.
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