I wouldn't have spent the time if I didn't think it was worth the time to read it.

When choosing the lesser of two evils, I find it helpful to look at the issues that directly effect my family. Here are some of the points that you may find relate to yourself also with the upcoming election. Assuming the campaign points of the various candidates pass, here are the effects on my family.

Off-Shore Drilling
McCain - In favor
Obama - opposed
Effect on my family if opposed? (1) The price of fuel (2) National transfer of wealth to other (read 'Near Eastern') nations, leading to a devaluation of the dollar and further depreciation of my 401k, stock, bonds, and regular savings accounts.
Note: Neither candidate supports what I believe to be the simplest and most effective solution. The current U.S. oil reserves are sufficient to run the country for 40 years including inflation. The government is not opening up these for use while imposing alternative fuel expectations on the automobile industry which could drop gas prices back to 3 dollars a gallon until a save and effective transfer occurred.

Same Sex Marriage
McCain - Opposed
Obama - In favor
Effect on my family in favor? The wrath of God on the nation? Any examination of Leviticus, Romans, and other scripture clarifies that the practice of homosexuality is in direct opposition to the main purpose of life, forming eternal families (see DNTC, McConkie).

Education
McCain - continue with No Child Left Behind
Obama - Alter No Child Left Behind and adjust the government's role in education with funding and emphasis on teacher competency, not teaching to an exam.
How does this effect my family? If McCain is elected, then the poor state of American education will not be challenged. After spending 3 years examining education in graduate school, listening and debating both sides of the issue, it is clear to me that NCLB is negatively influencing our education. Yes, children are passing tests, but they are being taught to pass, not to think. I believe the purpose of Education is to give a child all of the tools they need to clearly think, analyze, discern, understand, and examine issue so that they can make informed choices based on their set of values.

Capital Gains Tax
McCain - 0 % on home sales up to $500,000 for a couple filing jointly. (Or in other words, no change).
Obama - 28% on profit from ALL home sales.
Effect on my family? If I sell your home and make a profit, I will pay 28% of my gain on taxes. If my family is headed toward retirement and would like to down-size our home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money I make from my home will go to taxes.

DIVIDEND TAX
McCain - 15% (no change)
OBAMA - 39.6%
How will this effect my family? My money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains has always sent the stock market into a massive plunge.

INCOME TAX

McCain - no change
Obama - Increase back to Clinton era, (pre-Bush taxes)
Therefore...
MCCAIN
Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $31,250
OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)
Single making 30K - tax $8,400
Single making 50K - tax $14,000
Single making 75K - tax $23,250
Married making 60K - tax $16,800
Married making 75K - tax $21,000
Married making 125K - tax $38,750

INHERITANCE TAX
MCCAIN
- 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)
OBAMA
Restore the inheritance tax (Unless our relatives have paid a buttload of money to set up tax shielded accounts and trust funds) nearly 50% of items willed to family members go to the government.

Another new tax proposed by OBAMA
New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet. New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already) New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity) New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!!!

With all of the hype about change and hope, what is it I would experience as the change that I should hope for? 1-decreased deficit (take any basic college econ class and you'll realize the uninformed are seriously concerned about this.)
and the one that really scares me
2 - Working towards an establishment of socialized government-provided health care. This is a purely socialist agenda. Furthermore, his propositions for "fixing" the economy are antiquated stat-padding fixes that lead to further inflation and dollar devaluation. This would set us up for significant fiscal failure as a country, and an unprecedented global supply and demand shortage for the United States. (Simple terms, we lose money, cannot afford globally made goods.)

THEREFORE WHAT?
Since I have the ability to combat the problems with the current educational state in my own home, but I cannot fiscally handle the changes Obama proposes without destroying my plans for retirement and current status for living, I intend to vote McCain. - David

Note: Some individuals continue to believe that voting for 3rd party candidates makes a statement. This is true, and that statement is: "I do not understand the government set up by the founding fathers set up." In order to enhance compromise, these men set up a system that would support two-parties - forcing these parties to adopt minority groups ideas and compromise to garner votes. This leads to less extreme views. When a person votes for a 3rd party candidate, they are casting an empty ballot, it does not matter. They should pick the lesser of the two evils which have a chance to be elected so that the worse candidate does not come to power. One must work within the system even when it is corrupt in order to bring about actual change. Not just fluff and puff that stirs emotions. Politics are dirty. One must recognize that to bring about change, there are compromises that must occur.

I am personally responsible for the information above. The views expressed in this blog do not represent any organization or affiliation with which I am associated. Please feel free to check my work, I'm definitely non infallible, and let me know if you find any mistakes. Thanks for reading. Thanks even more for researching the issues on your own to be informed. Here are the web sites:
http://www.motortrend.com
http://www.barackobama.com/issues
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/
http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.html
http://elections.foxnews.com/?s=proposed+taxes
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/politics/articles/mccain_obama_offer_different_visions_on_taxes.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/barack_obama/
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_mccain/

Never cancel practice, particularly when facing Tom Cruise

On Wednesday this week I canceled #1's soccer practice due to thunderstorms and a soaking wet field. To say that effected the game would be a monstrous understatement.

The team did not run around almost at all. They did not watch the ball. They talked about their week, and they only put 3 shots on goal compared to the other team's 12 shots (10 scores?) on goal. We forgot nearly everything from previous practices.

Salt in the wound? Not a lot of the teams in this league are actually "coached" with intent, technique and goals. I've only seen one other team in the league that demonstrates that kind of coaching. It is the team coached by the man I call "Tom Cruise" because of his "Days of Thunder"/"Risky Business" (never seen it) circa 1983 sunglasses. I've never seen him without them. Does he wear them at night? Anyway, he was the only coach to beat my team last year in our nearly perfect season, and he handed our team Saturday a brutal whipping reminiscent of BYU putting on a clinic for UCLA.

Practice will not be canceled anymore. 4 foot snow drifts? With lightening? Hurricane force winds? The field falls into crevice from earthquake? Builds character. Suck it up and put some hustle into that snow bank.

Dental work

Went to the dentist this week to have a crown repaired while David was at work. #3 layed on my stomach and watched the entire procedure in shock. #1 also got her teeth cleaned and thought that was fun!

Oh no you didn't!

At the end of each day, Melissa has a tradition of asking the children what the hardest and best parts of their day are. Since she was gone as I put the children to bed, I decided to try it. #2 informed me that the best part of his day was, "When dad gave me the rest of his yogurt." I looked down at the half-finished Yoplait in my hand.

The manipulative little punk got the rest of one of my favorite flavors.

Finally

Well, it took 4 weeks of practice, but we finally got #1's new soccer team to score some goals. Even better, they scored 4! Since the other team scored three, it is probably appropiate to quote the ever-profound John Madden: "Well, the team that scores the most points usually wins." Brilliant.

Hard Body

If you look at the first picture in the current slide show, you will notice #2 on his bike with the big-ol' two-kid stroller attached. This wasn't a joke. He loves riding his bike (like dad) and successfully pulled #3 and the cart about 1/3 a mile on a bike ride. That's nearly twice his body weight. He may not be tall, but he is solid. He did it laughing nearly the whole time.

No #1, it's not Iraq na phobia

One of our friends mentioned that they found a tarantula in their yard. We'd seen some big spiders in the area, but not any legitimate beasts of that magnitude. Then we went on a walk a couple of days ago. This is a size 8-9 women's shoe next to a tarantula 4 blocks from our place. David told me (from work) that he wanted me to capture it so the kids could have a pet that would show them the real "circle of life". I passed. He doesn't mind spiders as much as I, and I'm not interested in that in my house. Home alone anyone?

The first

Friday night. Having successfully navigated the Stake and Regional softball tournaments, the Ward women's team headed for glory in the area championship. Four teams with dreams of green jell-o victory parties, only one could walk home with the Pyrex cup.

Melissa confidently strode out to right field, where her advanced speed could make-up for missed catches. In her first at bat, the wind blew three times. Second at bat, contact! A dribbling grounder... an error... she made it on base and later home. Then came the glory. A high fly ball into right center field, she ran, she prayed, her team prayed, no one called it... and Melissa grabbed it right before the center fielder collided with her but still, it was the game winning catch.

The post-game pep-talk mostly centered on why a person should call for the ball, and what that means for those who have never really played before. In the semi-final, Melissa focused on remembering to call it. Another high fly ball, Melissa ran in, calling for the catch the entire time, and watched it sail 20 feet over her head into the glove of the center fielder. Next lesson? Geometry. Particularly circles. This was not the most entertaining part of the second game though... Melissa "slid" into second base. Words cannot describe the attempt, but one must try. Imagine not knowing how to slide, and assuming that it occurs by stretching one leg out further than the other - like splits, now imagine not slowing down before that, now imagine the foot hitting the bag, popping up, and seeing her land "safe!" both cheeks directly on the bag.

Unfortunately, they lost that last game. Second place is the first loser. So we had to celebrate with apostate peach jell-o instead. Maybe next year. But... we don't have to wait long for more entertainment! Basketball and volleyball seasons are just around the corner... let the pain begin! Bring video cameras.