Why should I support Kerry, you say. Bush is fighting a good war, you say. He cares for us by giving us tax cuts and health benefits, you say. His family has a track record of public service, you say. Yeah he has some flaws, but then Kerry is worse. Why should I support Kerry, you say?
Although numerous others have tried to explain this to you, I thought I will put down my thoughts on this just in case mine is the last straw which breaks the camel's back. Here I go:
You should vote for Kerry because he went to Vietnam, and Bush did not. I wanted to get this off first as you will complain that why is this what I always hear. Once this is out of the way, let's talk about other issues.
You should vote for Kerry because he will not mess up Iraq as bad as Bush. For all the happy talk you hear from Bush, please have the courage to watch Al Jazeera for 2 hours and then come back and show me the roses Iraqis are throwing on our soldiers.
You should vote for Kerry because he will not make you poor. Of course Bush gave you $541 in tax cuts, but he has not told he is planning to take it back from your son, your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildren.
You should vote for Kerry if you want to get some social security when you retire. Of course Bush is going to create private social security accounts for you, but do you know their custodian will be a friends of his like Kenneth Lay who bankrupted the 7th largest company in the world, while taking off some of their cash.
You should vote for Kerry because Republicans have made gutter politics the norm of the day. For the last few days, you know someone has been trying to smear Bush for his national guard service. But tell me friend, for the past 10 years starting from WhiteWater to Vince Foster to Ms Lewinsky to Kerry's ficticious girlfriend to Kerry's service records, where is the stench coming from? These are the same people who besmirched John McCain indicating he had illegitimate children. Of course people will tolerate such dirty tricks for so long and then will need to hit back. But would not it be better for you to stand up and say you will not vote for Bush unless the dirty attacks stop.
You should vote for Kerry because you care for your children's life. Although I have heard theories, I do not know why Bush went to war against Iraq. And he has not given any indication that he will not go to war again. These wars will be unjustified, cruel and will also provoke retaliation. Your children will either fight in the unjust wars, or (if/when) will travel around the world ashamed of calling themselves American for the fear of life / kidnapping. Of course, Bush calls it a stronger America, but take a deep breath and think more about it.
You should vote for Kerry because you care for your environment. The current government thinks it is alright to have more arsenic in water, more pollutants in air, and there is or was no global warming. Well, it is likely they are right, but then why do they need to shout down the reports which indicate otherwise.
You should vote for Kerry because do not want America to become an example of banana republics where elections are fraud. What happened in Florida may have been a coincidence. However, if the same thing repeats now, in collaboration with Diebold, the next 4 years will be the first 4 years of the biggest banana republic EVER. You need to protest the paperless voting machines, and ensure there are audit procedures.
You should vote for Kerry even if your heart tells you you can not vote for Bush but would rather give a protest vote to Nader than Kerry. What use would it be? If you believe Bush needs to go, why take half hearted measures? Just like we were with Bush (and you) after 9/11, you show that you and I are united against Bush because of his administration's incompetence of the past 3 years.
You should vote for Kerry because you will then not have Don Rumsfeld as Secretary of Deptt of Defense. He seemingly authorized the torture of numerous prisoners in Iraq (and beyond) but refuses to accept any blame.
You should vote for Kerry because you will then not have Condoleeza Rice as National Security Advisor. The same National Security Advisor who called the memo titled "Bin Laden determined to strike inside the US" historic. The same National Security Advisor who said she could not do anything because she was just the "National Security Advisor".
You should vote for Kerry because you will then not have Dick Cheney as the Vice President. The same Vice President who is the only high level administration official to relate Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein on a daily basis, when in fact this has been denied by both Bush as well as 9/11 commission multiple times.
You should vote for Kerry because you will then not have the 3 main branches of government controlled and autocratically managed by your party. I know it is hard for you to give power to your opponents, but tell me what you think in your heart. Are Dennis Hastert, Tom Delay, Bill Frist and others in your party working on your behalf of just for themselves? What do you think, seriously?
You should vote for Kerry because you have heard enough from Bush about Economy. All the graphs I have seen indicate this to be the worst economy in decades. I know part of this was because of the over-indulgences of the 90s, but are you serious that Bush had no ownership of this? If Bush says the economy went bad even before the previous elections, it is 4 years by that count, right. And should not it improve in 4 years?
You should vote for Kerry because he may not sell out your interests to Saudi Oil Industry. I know no president ever has taken on the Oil industry and the Saudis. However, no president has been in bed with Saudis as much as Bushes (Sr and Jr) have been.
You should vote for Kerry as he might get some guns off the street. You remember the days couple of years back when you were scared filling up gas in the Virgina, Maryland and Washington area because of the beltway snipers. I know they were not using standard assault weapons, but do you want to be that scared everyday 10 years down the line. At the same time, do you remember your president when he used to come on TV everyday and say "tax cuts", "tax cuts" and "tax cuts". He now says he will sign the assault weapon ban if it reaches his desk. I am sure you believe him, but do you realize that my note to you is the first time you have heard of his statement, when he should have been stressing this on TV everyday. You remember Clinton had the balls to shut down the government when he had a disagreement on this level. Either it tells you about the President's level of support on this issue, or his ability to fight a just battle for you.
You should vote for Kerry because he brings along with him over 20 years of experience in public life. He did not commit to public service when he was 40, he has been doing it ever since he could. Of course, people have ambition. But who do you think deserves your vote? One who has been avoiding interaction with public all his life and his rich buddies and judges made him the president. Or the one who while having the ambition has given his whole life to taking up your causes.
You should vote for Kerry because he brings along with him John Edwards. I know you think he is a fake southerner, but please tell me what you think in your heart. If we had a catastrophe, who do you want to see president - Edwards or Cheney? At the same time, please go ahead and read Edwards's biography - the cases he fought while making money. Don't read the spin, read the details and see whether he was an evil trial lawyer (as some of your friends allege), just a man making good living doing an honest day's work.
You should vote for Kerry to show that although 9/11 changed everything, it did not take away your right to disagree with the government, to make your voice heard. Remember all those Freemen of Montana who used to provide some humour to daily life a few years back, think of what will happen to them if they protested such things now. They will be lucky not to go to Guantanamo.
You should vote for Kerry as he might either locate Osama, or tell you he is dead, but will not forget about him.
My friend, I apologize if I have offended you. However, please do not penalize this country because of my offense. Go and meet some people from the opposite party, listen to their perspective. Do come back and listen to Rush and Hannity, but do spend a thoughtful hour or 2 thinking about the other side's rationale.
And finally my friend, you should vote for Kerry because it is time for you to show your intelligence and tell your so called friends in government that you are not as dumb as they think you to be.