One final thought before the election from Larry Hodgden. Larry is a retired Viet Nam era veteran of the USAF. He and his wife of 40 years, Sharon, have three children and seven grandchildren who keep him very busy. Family, education, church and politics have been a lifelong passion. We at blogforiowa have appreciated his concise and well written contributions over the past several months.

Every election since I started voting has been called “the most important in our lifetime” and it may be true…… because the stakes seem to be higher each election cycle. We also hear that the choice has “never been clearer” and, while the choice has always been clear to me, it is true that the ideological positions of both Parties have never been more extreme or apparent.

So unless you prefer your own reality, the evidence and the facts are readily available to allow all of us to make an educated and intelligent choice this time. It seems it would also benefit each of us to question our own beliefs and compare them with the positions advocated by both major Parties. Do the positions of your Party provide the best path forward for our Nation and its citizens? For that matter, does your Party still represent you? Or do you, like so many, vote from habit, or out of self interest or because of a single issue or in fear and with hatred?

It’s your vote, use it any way you wish but it is obvious no Republican can defend the economic record of the Bush administration nor can they demonstrate how Romney/Ryan with the same plan can give us any different results. Nor can fair minded or compassionate people defend the religious and social intolerance in the Republican platform and its attacks on the equal rights of men and women which are guaranteed by the 14th amendment to our Constitution.

A Republican vote is a vote against health care reform which keeps young people insured until they’re 26 and assures them the ability to get insurance after that in case of pre-existing conditions. It’s a vote against free health screenings for men and women, against drug benefits for Medicare recipients and will change Medicare which has served our parents and grandparents so well. It will reduce Medicaid payments for our families and their children.

A Republican vote is a vote for Grover Norquist and his no tax pledge, it’s a vote for ALEC, a vote to end alternative energy sources, a vote to strip millions of Americans of their right to vote, it’s a vote to weaken public education, a vote to reduce taxes for millionaires and highly profitable corporations, it’s a vote to weaken the EPA which will lead to pollution of our air and water, a vote to kill regulations which protect us from Wall Street and banking fiascos.

The Tea Party dominated Republican Party has become so extreme in its positions that it has become an embarrassment to mainstream Republicans and risks marginalizing the Party to extinction. Your Republican vote will only encourage their extreme views and drive them further out of the mainstream. Your Republican vote is a risky proposition for the future well being of our country. There’s a better alternative, “Weigh Your Vote Carefully” and vote Democratic.