Recently I have learned (the hard way of course) that people are quite emotionally involved in this year's Presidential election. Maybe I should restate that previous statement to better reflect reality. People on the Left side of the political spectrum are emotionally involved in this year's Presidential election; while people on the Right side are emotionally involved in the *Vice* Presidential election.

While I know any election brings with it a certain level of emotional investment in your "team" and a certain number of hardcore followers on either side, I feel this year is a little different. There is no doubt that we are at a major turning point in our nation's history and that fact alone is deepening the emotions of this year's race. With two wars that have been going on far too long and have been poorly mishandled, we have undermined our standing in the world as a fair-minded superpower. With an economy that seems to teeter right on the brink of complete collapse everyday, we have undermined our financial future, as well as the financial futures of countless other countries. And with a congress and White House administration that has shown complete contempt and disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law, or the will of the people, we have shredded what little confidence in our elected officials we have had left.

I get it. We SHOULD be more emotionally involved this year than in previous years. We SHOULD take the time to look into the past decisions, votes, relationships, temperaments, scandals, and lives in general of all four of these major candidates and running mates before we decide whom to support and give our vote. And I feel we SHOULD be able to help campaign for the candidate we decide to support, even if that means talking to the opposition about the pluses of our choice and the minuses of theirs.

And, yes, even if that means hurting someone else's feelings. It is more important that we debate, question and criticize now, rather than after the vote when it is too late. It is more important to call out a lie or a smear now, than to let it pass and have it become part of the "official" mantra and definition of a candidate. And finally, it is more important that we hurt each others' feelings now, than hurt the country for another 4 years.