Be sure to get out and exercise one of our greatest freedoms tomorrow... the right to vote. It has been a pleasant change seeing everyone so excited about voting this election cycle.

It appears as though our next president will be Barack H. Obama and I think it will be a landslide despite the polls showing only a seven percent differential. I expect that in the end it will be between 15% and 20% nationally. I believe that North Carolina, as the early voting numbers suggest, will indeed go blue this year along with a number of other states.

Whoever wins, I hope healing will begin after a particularly divisive electorate has formed. Wounds are deeper than anything I can remember in my lifetime. Our country faces huge obstacles that will require everyone working together from politician to citizen.

After the election I hope the enthusiasm in government continues. Everyone needs to educate themsleves about civics and government process and our Constitution and Bill of Rights. We should know these well. You can obtain a pocket copy of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence at the Heritage Foundation:

https://secure.heritage.org/firstPrinciples/pocketconstitution.aspx

It is free and they even pay the postage. Consider a donation for this purpose so they can continue to provide such to as many people as possible.

If anything was proven with the initial bailout package, that is that we citizens can make a difference by communicating to our elected representatives. Keep and eye on the legislative process and the bills being considered. Read them and decide where you fall. Then contact your elected officials and tell them what you want. It is too late once the bill has been passed. We the people need to take back government and get rid of those on both sides of the aisle who do not act in our best interests. By watching the legislative process, we can all learn who is for the American people and who are motivated by self interests and then we can rid ourselves of those found to act contrary to us and our country.

And remember, all politics are local. Politics trickle up. Get involved in your community. Get to know your neighbors. Volunteer to help the elderly, be a big brother or sister, help educationally deprived adults to read or get their GED. Become a committe person for your party. If you are independent, form a group of independents. Be a positive force for change. You and your community and indeed every one of us will benefit from it. I know it makes a world of difference in my life.

It's been an interesting debate here at Miyard to say the least. Hopefully after tomorrow, we can all become Americans once again and I look forward to getting to know you all in your American hats! And I hope you get a chance to know the real me too. The one thing I found about nearly all of us, is that we all deeply care and are very passsionate. That can never be a bad thing even if our passions have gotten in the way at times. Positive vibrations to all from here in Philly!

Vote and stay invovled! Peace and respect. Irie.