Middle Age Plus

What affects your vote?

I don't usually get into political issues in my column.

I figure that by the time we are middle age plus we have seen all sorts of policies rise and fall, parties gain and lose, and heroes lauded and disclaimed.

Through it all we have risen in the mornings, gone to bed at night and usually had a reasonably normal life.

My first and only gambling loss was a nickel bet that Alfred Landon would win the presidential election.

You can see how astute my political insights were when I was in the third grade. I'm not sure they are any better in these very post-graduate years.

But I still keep informed, like to be involved (but not in my writings), and wouldn't miss voting in an election for any reason.

This year it seems that the political scene is so negative that we almost become Chicken Littles, running around claiming that the sky is falling. Every candidate on the state and national level, at least, tells all the terrible things that their opponent has done, or will do if elected.

It sounds like the future is in doubt, and we should all prepare for the worst.

In the past I have remembered that a few weeks after the election, we begin to forget about all the dire claims and great promises and just go on with our lives.

Not much has changed in our personal lives that we can see, so we soon forget.

But when we look back at the subtle changes that have come about, for good or not, we realize that differences have been established.

This month with debates being held at various levels, we have an opportunity to really make informed decisions.

For example, in the first presidential debate last week I noted that President Bush drank more water than Senator Kerry did.

In fact, at one time he actually emptied the glass and I wondered how he would get through the rest of the 90 minutes without a drink.

But later, there he was drinking again.

I suppose there were two glasses of water hidden under the podium somewhere. I never saw Senator Kerry drink any water. He may have when the cameras were not on him.

How should water consumption affect my vote? I know that drinking water is good for your health, but is a frequent need for water a sign of some problem?

I can't really make this decision because I never heard any reporter or news anchor discuss this afterwards.

We are told that the "spin" following a debate is more influential for voters than the actual debate. So my observation of the thirst factor cannot be used as a tool for the undecided voter. Too bad.

I know that when I am very nervous I get dry-mouthed and sometimes have trouble speaking because of the lack of moisture in my mouth. But I also know that casually taking a sip of water while the whole world is watching can show that one is completely at ease and doesn't mind letting people see the usual human needs such as food and water.

Since there were no potty breaks in the 90 minutes, the assurance that two glasses of water can be handled successfully could also be a sign of self-assurance.

A President that can remain in the public eye for long periods of time, so consuming liquid and still not needing a potty break might be something to consider in casting your vote.