Choosing a Leader

It's election season and in our household we're watching the news almost daily trying to decide where candidates stand and which person we will ultimately end up supporting. Not surprisingly, our kids have picked up on some of the things we've seen and heard and have been asking us tough questions about the candidates and the issues. In many ways, we're glad they are interested as it's important for them to understand the tremendous responsibility those of us who are able to vote have to choose carefully those who will lead us.

Rather than focus on the silly and superficial aspects of the campaigns (crying games, who's most charismatic, who's most "electable") we've been discussing issues: what we believe and how we both agree and disagree with each of the candidates.

Ultimately, our choices are not based on who is most likely to win or who seems most appealing to us. It's all about the deep convinctions that we hold and who most closely mirrors our beliefs. But there is more to it than that. Who holds the strongest convictions? Who is most likely to stand by their principles? Who is willing to do what is right even when it is unpopular?

Our children need to understand that we have a great freedom as Americans to elect our leaders. Our system works because we choose to allow it to work. But each one of us has a responsibility to carefully make choices when we step in the voting booth. When we fail to carefully choose who will lead us we get the incompetent leadership that we deserve.

When we go to vote in our state's primary in a couple of weeks, our children will step into the voting booth with us. They will get to witness our choices firsthand. We will discuss at length with them why we are choosing to vote for a particular candidate. We want them to understand that we take our responsibility as citizens and as voters seriously.

Before our children have the right and responsibilty of voting thrust upon them we will show them through our example how we decide who we will vote for and wrestle with the issues of the day. Our children need to understand what is at stake not just in the election of 2008 but in every election. Our investment in them today will make them far more responsible citizens as adults.