How can I still be undecided?

humanlight

The big day is tomorrow, and I have not idea what I am going to do!

Obama is my favorite pick, however, he is anti-coal, and I am from WV. This state lives off of coal. Most of my family would loose their jobs if Obama gets rid of the coal industary.

McCain...well, I just can't imagine another 4 years like the last 8. Enough said.

WTF do I do?

polaris

i think WV is gonna go GOP regardless no? ... if so, vote 3rd party ... having said that ... the entire economic plan has to be reworked to include sustainability - coal is a dying industry for a reason ... its cons outweighs its pros ... best to re-define earlier rather than later ...

Gonzo1977

humanlight wrote:

The big day is tomorrow, and I have not idea what I am going to do!

Obama is my favorite pick, however, he is anti-coal, and I am from WV. This state lives off of coal. Most of my family would loose their jobs if Obama gets rid of the coal industary.

McCain...well, I just can't imagine another 4 years like the last 8. Enough said.

WTF do I do?

Keep in mind. Obama is not against coal. He's for "Clean Coal".

He's been qouted as saying:

"We need to transition from coal burning power plants built with old technology to plants built with advanced technologies".

humanlight

Yea, I see your point, but if I vote Obama, my family would nearly disown me. They say I am ruining their chances for retirement, employment, etc. My dad is actually a weilder, and my brother is desiel machanic, however they both work at a mine. If the mines shut down here, there are no other jobs. We literally only have coal. (Well, if you want to make more than $11 dollars an hour.)

JaneNY

humanlight wrote:

The big day is tomorrow, and I have not idea what I am going to do!

Obama is my favorite pick, however, he is anti-coal, and I am from WV. This state lives off of coal. Most of my family would loose their jobs if Obama gets rid of the coal industary.

McCain...well, I just can't imagine another 4 years like the last 8. Enough said.

WTF do I do?

What you do is prioritize. If neither candidate 100% represents your views, you pick the one that is closer to your views.

You might want to go the Obama website - he does state his views on coal, and says he wants to "invest in the technology that will allow us to use more coal, America's most abundant energy source, with the goal of creating 5 first of a kind coal-fired demonstration plants with carbon capturing sequestration so they are not adding to global warming". I believe this is what is termed 'clean coal' technology, and it definitely does not say he is going to 'get rid of the coal industry'. Hopefully this is helpful!

edit: Your family does not need to know how you vote - we have a secret ballot for a reason.

humanlight

Gonzo1977 wrote:

Keep in mind. Obama is not against coal. He's for "Clean Coal".

He's been qouted as saying:

"We need to transition from coal burning power plants built with old technology to plants built with advanced technologies".

Yea, I am all for clean coal. But from what I understand, he was saying to make the coal plants "clean" it would be too expensive. So, I think he is thinking of just using other materials. Which, typically, I am a big tree hugger, and I rationally understand that. However, it would be devistating to my state.

JaneNY

humanlight wrote:

Yea, I am all for clean coal. But from what I understand, he was saying to make the coal plants "clean" it would be too expensive. So, I think he is thinking of just using other materials. Which, typically, I am a big tree hugger, and I rationally understand that. However, it would be devistating to my state.

Read what I wrote above your post - I typed in his words spoken on his website on this issue, verbatim. He states coal, specifically.

humanlight

JaneNY wrote:

What you do is prioritize. If neither candidate 100% represents your views, you pick the one that is closer to your views.

You might want to go the Obama website - he does state his views on coal, and says he wants to "invest in the technology that will allow us to use more coal, America's most abundant energy source, with the goal of creating 5 first of a kind coal-fired demonstration plants with carbon capturing sequestration so they are not adding to global warming". I believe this is what is termed 'clean coal' technology, and it definitely does not say he is going to 'get rid of the coal industry'. Hopefully this is helpful!

edit: Your family does not need to know how you vote - we have a secret ballot for a reason.

But my family will ask me, and I either have to say that I didn't vote, or a I voted for McCain. So, I think my options are as of today, not voting or lying to my family.

OffHeGoes29

Read their platforms and make a choice based on what you feel is good for America....don't read the BS people post here.

Good luck

humanlight

polaris wrote:

i think WV is gonna go GOP regardless no? ... if so, vote 3rd party ... having said that ... the entire economic plan has to be reworked to include sustainability - coal is a dying industry for a reason ... its cons outweighs its pros ... best to re-define earlier rather than later ...

I think it is tough to say what will happen here. Most people I know, 25+ and well educated love Obama, but the "old timers" would never vote for a dark skinned president. Then throw in the coal thing...yea, I bet we swing towards McCain.

inmytree

humanlight wrote:

Yea, I am all for clean coal. But from what I understand, he was saying to make the coal plants "clean" it would be too expensive. So, I think he is thinking of just using other materials. Which, typically, I am a big tree hugger, and I rationally understand that. However, it would be devistating to my state.

coal is not going away...no matter who gets elected, they will still be digging...

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/coal.html

blackredyellow

You basically get a free ride being in WV... you can vote for Obama, and not have it effect WV's electoral votes.

You can always say that to your family... "I voted for Obama, but I did so knowing that McCain will still win WV."

PJ_Saluki

My dad is overseeing construction of two prep plants, a mine, a harbor project and a rail spur in Kentucky. He's been in coal for nearly 40 years. He's voting for McCain. My grandfather is a card-carrying member of the UMWA as a retired coal miner. He's 81 and has some of the prejudices of his generation against black people. The UMWA endorsed Obama. My grandfather will vote for Obama in Pennsylvania tomorrow.

I guess I'm saying there are people involved with mining who are on opposite sides of the fence.

Gonzo1977

humanlight wrote:

But my family will ask me, and I either have to say that I didn't vote, or a I voted for McCain. So, I think my options are as of today, not voting or lying to my family.

Inform yourself. Look at the canditates on the issue of coal and beyond. What ever side you pick, your family has no right to decide your vote for you.

This is your vote; It's not their vote.

GO VOTE!!!

saveuplife

humanlight wrote:

The big day is tomorrow, and I have not idea what I am going to do!

Obama is my favorite pick, however, he is anti-coal, and I am from WV. This state lives off of coal. Most of my family would loose their jobs if Obama gets rid of the coal industary.

McCain...well, I just can't imagine another 4 years like the last 8. Enough said.

WTF do I do?

Whatever you do, don't let a message board sway your vote. Think about the issues and make a decision for yourself. That way you can rest easy.

If not, just vote McCain.

polaris

humanlight wrote:

I think it is tough to say what will happen here. Most people I know, 25+ and well educated love Obama, but the "old timers" would never vote for a dark skinned president. Then throw in the coal thing...yea, I bet we swing towards McCain.

I empathize with you ... your family is obviously very important to you ... although mine is as well - i'm way too independent to allow family pressure to dictate my choices ... i think if you have a reasoned approach - so, be it ... the only person you have to answer to is yourself ...

maybe lying here is the best option if you don't vote for mccain ... and when the coal mine is still in tact IF obama wins - you can throw it back into their faces ...

humanlight

saveuplife wrote:

Whatever you do, don't let a message board sway your vote. Think about the issues and make a decision for yourself. That way you can rest easy.

If not, just vote McCain.

Very funny. Just not an enourmous fan of either one. I definately sway towards Obama. Here is another question. Should people like me even vote. Here is what I mean....(before all of you gets your panties in a mess).....I have watched the news (which is biased) and comercials, read articles, watched debates, etc...but I still have not idea where they stand on some issues b/c it is PC information. So, if I don't fully understand their positions, should I go vote. Shouldn't olny politically educated people vote?

saveuplife

humanlight wrote:

Very funny. Just not an enourmous fan of either one. I definately sway towards Obama. Here is another question. Should people like me even vote. Here is what I mean....(before all of you gets your panties in a mess).....I have watched the news (which is biased) and comercials, read articles, watched debates, etc...but I still have not idea where they stand on some issues b/c it is PC information. So, if I don't fully understand their positions, should I go vote. Shouldn't olny politically educated people vote?

No, everyone is entitled to vote. There's no way possible to be able to know everything fully about any candidate. Also, as you know, it's impossible to predict the future. One can simply make as educated a guess as possible.

That said, IMHO what you can do is ask yourself which platform you prefer. Look at the Democratic platform and look at the Republican platform. Regardless, of the idiosyncratic attributes of the two candidates, their goals are their party's platform. Read both and make a decision on which you prefer.

http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/

http://www.democrats.org/a/party/platform.html

Gonzo1977

humanlight wrote:

Very funny. Just not an enourmous fan of either one. I definately sway towards Obama. Here is another question. Should people like me even vote. Here is what I mean....(before all of you gets your panties in a mess).....I have watched the news (which is biased) and comercials, read articles, watched debates, etc...but I still have not idea where they stand on some issues b/c it is PC information. So, if I don't fully understand their positions, should I go vote. Shouldn't olny politically educated people vote?

Go to the source. Read up on the issues; straight from the horses mouth.

http://www.barackobama.com
http://www.johnmccain.com

Don't rely on the media and your family to filter the information and form your opinion for you.

It's never an easy choice; but that's what makes it so important.

Heineken Helen

humanlight wrote:

Very funny. Just not an enourmous fan of either one. I definately sway towards Obama. Here is another question. Should people like me even vote. Here is what I mean....(before all of you gets your panties in a mess).....I have watched the news (which is biased) and comercials, read articles, watched debates, etc...but I still have not idea where they stand on some issues b/c it is PC information. So, if I don't fully understand their positions, should I go vote. Shouldn't olny politically educated people vote?

I've often wondered the same... cos I consider our main political parties to be pretty much the same as eachother... but usually something would sway me to vote for somebody. AND you don't have to put up with people saying 'well you didn't vote so you've no opinion' there's a reason it's not mandatory but you're better to just vote if you have an opinion.

Oh and do what's good for YOU! You can lie to your family... besides don't ya know that neither candidate will stick to their word anyway

JaneNY

Gonzo1977 wrote:

Go to the source. Read up on the issues; straight from the horses mouth.

http://www.barackobama.com
http://www.johnmccain.com

Don't rely on the media and your family to filter the information and form your opinion for you.

It's never an easy choice; but that's what makes it so important.

This^^^. People often say they don't know where the candidates stand, but then make no effort to find out. Its right on those sites, what they are saying.