Tomorrow, probably mid-morning, I’ll take a walk for a few blocks to my polling place. I’ll pray the rosary on the way.
Like many – perhaps most – Americans, I’ll be making the best choices I can, consistent with my beliefs and values. And like the rest of you, in most cases I’ll be voting for what I consider to be the least bad choice.
Our local state representative is Catholic, pro-life, a great family man and believes in religious and economic freedom. He will get my vote and he already has my gratitude. I wish there were many more like him, but candidates of his character are far too rare.
Some of the local candidates – country board, park district, junior college, board, etc. – seem to be honorable folks. We even have a couple judges who appear to be honest.
When you get to Congress, Senate and President, it gets a bit dicey. George Washington and Abe Lincoln are not on the ballot. In fact, this year’s candidates make Warren G. Harding look like a pretty solid guy. Jimmy Carter has a chance to move one notch down on the list of worst American presidents.
Many of the choices are, frankly, rather depressing. There are no candidates at the Federal level who represent everything I want in a leader. Some of them have virtually no qualities that I admire.
But I refuse to vote against anyone. My ballot it not half empty; it is half full. I will carry out my civic duty.
Given the dearth of perfect people on the ballot, I’ll vote for the candidates that most nearly reflect my views on life issues, economics, freedom of religion and the appointment of Supreme Court Justices.
I refuse to allow the pursuit of perfection to prevent the achievement of the good.
