Thoughts on 2004 election.

It is November 3, 2004 and the United States election was held last night and we still do not have a clear winner. The country is still waiting for the results from at least 2 states, Ohio and Iowa. The election 2004 should go down in history as one of the closest.

Mr. Bush seems to have the upper hand and should win the election when we get the final results. I am sure that Mr. Kerry will dispute some of the results, but Mr. Bush should prevail. This campaign was one of the most negative campaigns that I can remember. Both sides spouting dirt on each other and no one really talking about the issues. Mr. Bush and especially, Mr. Cheney, told Americans that a vote for Mr. Kerry would invite an attack on the United States. Mr. Kerry talked about how he is for the middle class and Mr. Bush for the rich. Both sides distorted the truth.

As a voter and an American, I was very disgusted with both campaigns. Yet, I went out yesterday and cast my ballot. I did not decide until I had to make my selection in the voting booth. After coming home from my job, I then sat down and watched as CNN, MSNBC and all the other networks went over the endless scenarios about who was going to win the election. We still have no results and we may still have 10 or 11 days before we do get results.

I did find some positive results from the 2004 election. In some states, as many as 70% of the people voted. This is great news for our country. It is about time that we Americans went to the polls and not let less than 50% decide who controls our government. The seniors as well as the young got out to vote. The poor as well as the rich visited the polls. The minorities voted in record numbers. These are all positive signs in the United States. I must relate a story from my job. A new American citizen voted for the first time. He had just received his citizenship in the last few months and because of his employment prior to now had not voted in his former homelands elections. I could see the excitement in his eyes and this shows how great America really is. We take our democracy for granted and it was nice to see that others do not.

Where do we go from here? The election of 2004 does show a polarized America. Mr. Bush, if the results bear out, has a Republican controlled legislature and should have no problem getting his agenda through. If the past is any indication, however, didn't Mr. Bush have a Republican-controlled Congress before? What has really changed over the last 4 years as far as Congress goes? A big NOTHING! America is as polarized as it was 4 years ago and all we did was stretch our military to a breaking point and give tax breaks to the wealthy and watch our economy go in the tank. So, what is the answer?

I guess we will have to wait 4 more years....