Vote your conscience, not somebody else's

Vote—As long as you do it MY way!

I used to live with a guy (back when I was young and stupid) who used to go over all of the issues with me and tell me how to vote. He wanted me to vote on the issues that were important to him and he wanted to be sure I would vote his way. He told me that any vote I cast in opposition to any of his votes was essentially invalidating his vote and that if I loved him I wouldn't do that.

I'm really touchy about people telling anyone else to vote for things that matter to them instead of encouraging people to vote their own heart and their own conscience.

Everyone needs help in some way. Some more than others. Some have more immediate needs than others. I don't blame you for campaigning to try to get others to vote your way on the issues that directly impact your life and/or the lives of the people you love so very much. In fact, I respect you for it.

I just wish people would end it there. Present their situations and ask for help to vote for this or for that, and then stand back and let the chips fall where they may. There's a fine line between campaigning and bullying. And we all need to remember that other people have needs too, and even though their needs or the needs of their loved ones aren't as important to us as our own needs or the needs of our loved ones, we need to respect our fellow voters as individuals and respect the sanctity of individual choice and decision.