Up or down

When you cast your votes tomorrow, you will be voting either up or down. In reality there is no left or right. Society either moves forwards or it moves backwards. Freedoms and liberties expand and go up, or they decrease and go down.

I have told you my personal beliefs many times over the last year, and I have backed up my theories with facts and figures to prove them.

Now the ball is in your court. You must decide.

Do you believe in the rights of individuals to determine their own lives? Or do you believe that the government must act as a nanny state to ensure you’re behaving yourself?

Personally I can’t stand drugs, but I believe everyone has the right to determine what’s best for them. I know that the free market and communities will stop drugs from being used on the streets. The conservative argument that people will be smoking pot on every street corner is as absurd as the liberals argument that if we allow fully automatic weapons to be sold, there will be blood on the streets. It is up to each individual to make up his or her own choice. Or would you prefer the government intervene at every level? Where does it stop? At one trillion dollars spent on the drug war so far, and the highest incarceration rate on the planet, wouldn’t you say that not only has the drug war failed, but that it has made our country far less free?

How do you feel on taxes? At what percentage does taxation become slavery?

How do you feel about the wars overseas? Are they necessary? Is it our job to be the policeman of the world? Do preemptive wars make us just like the Nazi’s of the 1930’s? Or are we justified in the murder of over 1 million people? Can we justify the trillions of dollars we have spent blowing up, destroying and rebuilding cities in the middle east?

Do you believe in free speech? Do you believe in the freedom of the internet? Or would you like censorship of everything you say?

There are many issues to consider, and many ways to look at them. I always look at them through the eyes of the constitution, and I ask myself the question “does this make myself and others free, or does it take away freedom?” Another thing to remember is that just because you don’t like something, doesn’t mean that it should be illegal. It is up to parents to teach their kids well, and it is up to families to reinforce morality. You cannot legalize morality, and when you try to, all you do is monopolize the states power against you, and divert its energy to sinister deeds. Once an issue becomes illegal; corruption flourishes.

To finish I’ll tell you a story I heard a while back, that goes like this:

“While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator (that may be redundant) was tragically hit by a car and died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St.. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let

me in,” says the Senator. “Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.” “Really?, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the Senator. “I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course.

In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where

St. Peter is waiting for him, “Now it’s time to visit heaven…”

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

“Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell…

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls to the ground.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

“I don’t understand,” stammers the Senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil smiles at him and says,
“Yesterday we were campaigning,

Today, you voted..”

Now sleep on these thoughts, and in the morning, vote with your conscious, do not vote through fear; there are many seemingly well intentioned people who are trying to monopolize your fear to steer their agenda. Vote with your principles and convictions; remember even the smallest drops have ripple effects.

Published by

Paul Townsend

Paul is a freelance writer who grew up in the UK and became an American citizen.

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