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I don't think the choice gets more difficult as we approach November. The choice remains what it has been all along. Voters who want more government, more taxes, more intervention by the federal government in business and families, more expensive social programs, more government involvement in health care decisions, more robbing of the rich to give to the poor will vote for Senator Obama who, for all his talk about change really represents the traditional liberal, socialistic views of the Democratic party. Voters who want less government, fewer taxes, less intervention by the federal government in business and families, fewer expensive social programs, less government involvement in health care decisions and less robbing of the rich to give to the poor will vote for Senator McCain who, for all his talk of change, really represents the traditional conservative, capitalistic views of the Republican party. The choice is quite simple for the voter who knows the philosophies of the candidates and their parties and who know their own philosophy.

The difficulty comes to those voters who do not understand the issues, who have not formulated their own world view, and who have difficulty seeing beyond their own needs and wants. These voters tend to be confused by the war of words that typically precedes an important election such as this one. They watch the mindless television ads put out by both sides and cannot understand why anyone would want to vote for either side. Yet they fall prey to the political promises offered by candidates seeking votes.

Voters who have trouble making ends meet might be attracted to Mr. Obama since he promises a form of universal health care and tax breaks for the middle class. What they probably do not realize is that if corporations have to pay higher taxes, then consumers have to pay more for the goods and services produced by those corporations. If everyone has health care, someone has to pay for it. The taxpayers will have to foot the bill.

Voters who are tired of having the government look over their shoulder in so many important decisions they have to make might be attracted to Mr. McCain since he promises lower taxes and smaller government. What they probably do not realize is that they may have less under a smaller government unless they are willing to work harder to get what they need. Without government health care, they may not be able to pay for some medical treatment needed down the road.

No matter who wins the election, Americans will realize some advancements and some retreats in their personal lives. Neither candidate is perfect. Neither candidate can solve all our problems. Neither candidate can make life better for any of us. Both have strengths. Both have weaknesses. Both make promises. Neither can keep all the promises made.

Smart voters do not vote for an individual, and they do not vote along party lines. First, they understand their own world view, then they vote for the person who comes closest to their world view. People who hold to a liberal view will vote for Mr. Obama. People who hold to a conservative view will vote for Mr. McCain. The choice is easy for those who know what they believe.

Know yourself, the philosopher said. Those voters who know themselves have already decided for whom they will vote and not one dollar of the millions being spent on the campaign will change their minds.

Learn more about this author, Tom Parsons.
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