Tomorrow is Election Day…will you cast your vote?  It’s difficult to imagine that the moment is almost upon us, after so many months of campaigns, debates, commercials and the confusion into which last month’s economic slump pushed us.  Over the past few discussions, we’ve looked at how the democratic and republican candidates’ policies might affect your business.

It’s important to note, and emphasize, that there are many elements to the economic issue and even more issues to consider before you walk into your local voting center.  Like any election, this is not one to approach without knowing the issues and where you stand.  Whoever you vote for, be certain that your vote is generated from an intellectual pursuit of information and an understanding of the issues at hand and how each candidate’s policies will affect you, your business, and our nation.

Even more important than the issues themselves, the message of our last few discussions was to emphasize the importance of learning about the candidates and what they plan to support or oppose should they win your vote.  Reading between the lines is crucial to understanding the stance of each candidate.  Political campaign information is specifically designed to contain as much vague information as possible.  By reading between the lines, you can figure out the candidate’s slant, in other words, his or her stance, and from there you can seek the facts you need to fill in the gaps.

You’ll notice in our recent discussions that gaps, or vague statements, were pointed out.  This wasn’t to discredit the candidates, but merely to ask the questions that will hopefully prompt each of us to seek the information we need to complete our decision.  Remember that the candidates have the facts when they decide where they stand…but as voters, it’s our responsibility to seek as much as that fact as we can to give context to each candidate’s view.

As for voting itself, please do not discount your right to vote.  Voting is among the most precious freedoms we have.  From a personal standpoint, I have heard many people say things such as, “The vote’s already decided.  I live in a (blue or red) state.”  Your vote does matter.  Each of us has only one vote, but that vote is our legal right to express our opinion.  So many in our country’s history fought to extend the right to vote to various groups to bring that freedom to an equal group of American citizens.

What gives a vote value?  You do.  Your ability to evaluate issues and make an informed decision is what gives your vote value.  Hopefully, our discussions over the past week have emphasized this point among others in an unbiased fashion.  Here at ERUNIX, we encourage you to vote for the candidate you believe would be best for the job of President.  We want you to cast your vote, for whomsoever you choose, no matter what party that candidate belongs to.

In other words, for the purpose of our discussions, it’s not important to us who you vote for, simply that you vote, and that your vote contains the value of your informed decision.  Remember that it’s your legal and constitutional right to cast your vote tomorrow.  Make the time to visit your local voting center on the way to or from work, or on your lunch break, to exercise your right.  If you’re still considering skipping a trip to your voting center, remember that if you’re displeased with the results of tomorrow’s election, and you didn’t vote, then the burden of your disappointment rests upon your shoulders.  If you vote and do not like the results, at least you know that you did your part.  Every vote counts.  Your vote counts.