Howdy Gang! Tonight’s entry is an interview with Mary, my mother. Generally an ambivalent voter, Mary agreed to have a short discussion about her voting habits when she can manage to get to the booths. She identifies most with the Democratic Party as a moderate liberal.

       Personally invested in the Obama vs McCain election, Mary voted for Obama due to her belief in his family values. She was disillusioned with what she believed was a distancing from common sense and peacefulness in the Bush administration. She believed his rush to war was hasty and reckless, and caused more war and bloodshed than was necessary- something she still believes is ongoing. Mary’s hope for 2016 is for Hilary Clinton to win the Presidential election, beginning a new Clinton administration- Mary was a fan of the first, “Bill [Clinton] was just so interesting to watch, charming” she said of him.  

As a member of the younger generation, my own experiences are primarily that of the Bush administration onwards. Seeing the spectacles and messes made by the administration shook my faith in the office, like many others. In a world where information is sent out so quickly and without confirmation, it's important that a leader be thoughtful before making decisions- a trait that G.W. Bush did not demonstrate during his tenure. 

The media talks about a large gap between generations, but a collective, society only has so many viewpoints. You're bound to agree and disagree with people all the time, but it's the point of civilization to find a balance. Voters are compelled by the media to oppose those whose ideas differ, as though democratic debate is an either/or sum game. Liberal vs conservative is a scale, and finding the balance can be different but should voters on both sides of the scale try to work to find it, it's achievable.


Questions posed in the interview:
1. What is your personal affiliation?
2. When have you been most personally affected by a vote?
3. Which side were you on?
4. What led to your stance on the Bush administration?
5. What was your stance on the War in Iraq? What is it today?
6. How would you describe yourself, liberal conservative or other?
7. Who will you likely vote for in the future?
8. Were you a supporter of the first Clinton administration?
9. Liberal or conservative?
10. What are your thoughts on the taxes in your home state?