Two Minutes to Midnight:

Or in this case, 30 days to Midnight.

30 days from now, we will have a new president of the United States, and 30 days from now we will see how things will change either by plummeting in a rectal linear sense or rising above our expectations.

30 days for voters to finally make a decision.

30 days for our presidential nominees to put their nose to the grind stone and prove who is the better man.

30 days for all of us to sift through the news tags and tickers to decide what really is best for this country.

In the truth glory of the internet, I am going to state my opinion as clearly as possible, even if it might be uninvited. Some of you will support me, which is great. Some of you will blast me, which whatever comments you have, most I will let roll off my shoulders and some, if thoughtfully put, I will review to see if you actually have a point.

However, I am hoping to direct this, my first of several essays, mostly to the undecided voters of this country. Men and women who at this point, have no idea who they are going to vote for.

I want to explain precisely why I am voting for Obama, and hope that in stating my point of view, others might decide to vote alongside me. I am not going to do this in one simple post- as my reasons are far too complex. Instead, I am going to do several essays each with a different focus. Read if you chose.

     First, let me state my position in life: I am a 20-30 something white woman with one child under two, married, and decidedly  middle of the middle class. I am not rich, but I am in debt (which I fully admit my fault for), but at the same time my husband and I are one the few lucky couples in the U.S right now that are making ends meet.  We rent, own our car, and have two cats.  I was raised in Vermont, middle of no where, and while I've never shot a moose, I have shot a gun and when I was 16, had pretty good aim.  I am the daughter of a nurse, and a farmer, and I have two brothers, one who still farms, and the other who works in software development.

     My husband is from Denmark, a (GASP!) democratic/socialist country. He's definitely left, and in some cases more left than I am ( I support the death penalty, he doesn't).

     We are both pretty well educated, both have stable jobs, and both are in the up and up on politics (though he's much more educated than I am. I frequently ask him to give me the non biased version of what is going on with certain political situations..which he actually can do. He's one of the most bluntly objective people I know. This is proven by the fact that if you asked him to debate why Hitler was in fact the best leader in all of the world, he could do it, despite the fact that he is so liberal he makes me look like a Republican.) I am rather knowledgeable in Feminism. I've done reports on the Seneca Falls Convention, and for a time, worshipped Elizabeth Cady Stanton. I cannot stand the feminists that say " Motherhood" or breast-feeding is demeaning towards woman as honestly, its just illogical to state that. Feminism, to me, was never about cutting women off entirely from " Traditional" roles, but more just giving people a choice. That's it. Fair, equal choice. And that is pretty much the center of my political views: I want everyone to have the same choices and equality (within certain boundaries of course), whether its to believe God is really a flying spaghetti monster, or an old man with a flowing white beard.

     I admit that to myself I could never be in politics. Why?  Because people would hate me. A lot. I personally am rather intolerant of ignorance, and I am intolerant of those who make decisions based simply on single issues. Let me clarify: I don't get people who will willingly vote for someone because they are " against X thing " or " for x thing", but have other things on their record demonstrate some rather questionable activities. (IE, you will willingly vote for someone because they are against abortion, but they also intend on cutting funding for women's shelters, where you work.)

     My hobbies include gaming (video games and yes, dungeons and dragons), reading, writing, the internet, movies, and art. I really want to learn how to knit and sew but need a mentor, which I've yet to find.

So now, you have an idea of who I am. So let me tell you one thing that is a big issue to me:

Healthcare.

If there is one thing my Canadian, British, and other international buddies mock me for is our joke of a health care system. I'm sorry, but if you talk with anyone who actually works in the healthcare system (a nurse, a doctor, ect), they will tell you that the LAST thing we need is less regulation in health care, and honestly, a lot more regulation on health insurance. I hate the fact that if I had just moved to Denmark like a smart person, I would not owe an exorbitant amount just for having a baby. I hate the fact that I have denied myself basic dental care because I cannot afford it.  We need a better system. Ours is simply one of the worst in the world. We have one of the worst infant mortality rates. One of the worst obesity rates, and we are horrific when compared to Canada and other countries. The whole " Wait list" argument is null and void to me: We don't have a wait list for health care in this country because we either get health care, or we don't. That's it. Its no more complicated than that.  Our hospitals, and insurance companies are greedy, and our based on the idea of making profit rather than making people better. Hospitals do not want us to get better, because then we keep coming back. If we were healthy, they would have no patients. And I'm not saying doctors and nurses want this:  I mean the executives that run the hospitals and have huge salaries as a result. Additionally, I also am against the individuals that are quite fine with raising our premiums but lowering what our insurance covers.

Obama gets it. Obama sees that our system currently does not work and we need to do better. He sees beyond the typical egotistical argument that European values are bad, American Values good, and sees that other countries are kicking our rears when it comes to health care. And he's finally willing to put money into it unlike previous presidents. Keep in mind: I'm from Vermont. Vermont has a mostly socialized health care system, and is THE healthiest state in the nation. We have high taxes, but if you are under 18, or pregnant, you -can- get the care you need at a price you -can- afford. This needs to be done country wide. I am confident that Obama will accomplish this, and because of that, he has my vote.

For those of you that think that I am wrong: Talk to someone from Britain, or Canada. Talk to someone who lives in an established health care system, and ask them how they think OURS works. I'm betting that most of the international folk will respond " like crap."

And some might respond: Well I don't want my taxes to go up!....let me put it in another light: what if you did pay more in taxes, BUT, you never, ever, had to pay for another dentist cleaning, another pair of glasses, another physical, another shot, or pay at an incredibly reduced rate? Imagine that an extra 200 or so on your taxes might in fact save you 2000, or more,  in medical expenses?

Pretty much I am unconvinced that our system is better. In fact, I laugh hysterically at anyone who says that it is.