IT'S JUST A VOTE, RIGHT?

Democracy. Say the word to me and I instantly think; "Free people voting in fair elections to control their own destiny." That's what I believe is the foundation of a true democracy. I have also always believed, (maybe naively), that the United States has fair democratic elections. Although lately, I've begun to have some doubts. I don't mean snafus, those happen at some level in every election. I've seen the troubles that other countries have with their elections and although some of ours are far from perfect, it seems that we have enough people watching it and questioning it to keep it honest by world standards. For instance, whenever one side loses, it always claims that it was cheated. Then, if they win in the very next election, we're expected to believe our system somehow magically became honest again. Since at least one side always claims the election was fair and the other sides problems are usually minor, it's probably pretty close to fair. But, with that aside, I want you to consider the discussion that has been going on at the highest level of our Government here in the "People's Republic of Michigan".

As most of you already know, my home state, Michigan, has been embroiled in a controversy over what to do about our botched $12 million primary election. You know, the one with Hillary Clinton as the only leading candidate out of the top three. The one they told us wouldn't count anyway since our delegates wouldn't be seated. The one where they made us register as a Democrat or a Republican to vote in it. The one where a lot of people crossed over to the other party because their candidate wasn't even on the ballot, and now are told they can't revote. The one where our voting guide, from the state of Michigan itself, told us to vote "uncommitted" if our candidate was missing, and then the DNC would decide later where your vote would go. The one where they essentially recommended that you turn in a signed empty ballot.

Yeah, that election.

Well, it's now seems that their efforts to have another Michigan primary election have fallen apart and I doubt that it can be repaired. Obama, who wisely sees that a large section of his voters may have crossed over to vote for anti-war Republican candidate Ron Paul or even John McCain, realizes that this can't be to his benefit. His argument, and rightly so, is that he was told the delegates wouldn't count and now the dynamics are against him as a direct result of the actions of the DNC and the state of Michigan. This makes sense to me and I don't blame him. My guess is they'll seat the delegates 50/50 in the end just so they can go to the party.

But that's not what's bothering me. What really bothers me is that our Governor, Jennifer Granholm, a committed Clinton supporter, and Hillary Clinton herself, have both now publicly stated that they think our first election here in Michigan was a fair election and the delegates should be seated accordingly. Yes, the same election that I pointed out earlier.

My God.

Look, I can forgive them for wanting passionately to win this election. I can even forgive them for using any means at their disposal, but is that what they honestly think is the standard for a fair election? Have they completely forgotten that this is The United States of America? This isn't some false democracy where the "President for Life" runs elections without challengers. Having only one real choice is the same as taking my vote away. If I only learned one thing of any consequence in my Political Science classes, it is that the vote is the only real power in a true Democracy. It is the fear that is in the hearts of politicians and without it, you work for them instead of the other way around..

Of all the issues that have surrounded the candidates so far, I wonder, "What could possibly be more important than how they would define a fair vote." When you think about it, a vote is our power. It's no wonder that it brings such joy to people who were once denied it. It's no wonder that people will stand for days in the rain to vote in places like Iraq or South Africa. And it's no wonder that people have fought for it, and died for it. It's the one thing that signals to once-enslaved people that their days of bowing are over, and the absolute sign that freedom is safe.

Our Mainstream Media will probably ignore this story, or just right it off as politics as usual. But, if the controversial statements of Barack's preacher are subject to such scrutiny, (because it might give us insight into Barack's thinking about America), isn't it only fair that we ask Hillary and Granholm to explain their statements about the very foundation of America? Wouldn't this give us some of the same kind of insight? If it's so important that we know the candidate's views on our country, (and I believe it is), then I, for one, would like to know what kind of "fair elections" Jennifer Granholm and Hillary Clinton think should be in our future. H.C.

P.S. As promised, I found a great site for all of you to track the Superdelegates. This site gives you the names and who they're supporting. Not surprisingly, Governor Jennifer Granholm is declared as supporting Hillary.