To Vote or Not to Vote?

I have always been a bit of a rebel (okay a lot of a rebel). I grew up in a small town that was 90% Republican and 95% Mormon. So, unsurprisingly, there was not a lot of diversity. If you weren't hard-core into religion, which I wasn't, then you were automatically an outcast. Add to the mix that I was born into a long line of staunch Democrats. Socially, it would seem I was doomed. Fortunately, I did alright, and made my way precariously through high school without too much trouble.

In my early twenties, I was what I would consider, a default Democratic Mormon. However, by the time I was twenty-five, I officially knew that church wasn't for me. Leaving the religion that I was raised with really rocked my boat. If that wasn't for me, then what was? What did I believe in? This post isn't really about religion, but it all led up to one defining moment for me. When I stopped being a rebel, and figured out who I was and what I believed in.

There are many circumstances that have brought me to where I am now politically. I'm confused. The more I research, the harder time I have knowing who to support. It seems there is so much hateful advertising, that I can barely stand to watch. All of the problems this country suffers from seem to originate from one underlying problem, government in cahoots with big business. It's obvious who is running this country and it's certainly not the people. It's not about what's best for the country, but what is best for the party, and the constituents, which happen to be either a gigantic company or a gigantic government entity.

I haven't decided which person will receive my vote yet but as a homeschooler I am always looking for ways to enrich our experiences. Ron Paul has a section on his website about homeschoolers, and what he plans to do for us. He claims he has introduced legislation to provide homeschool parents a $5000 tax credit to help pay for tutors, books, computers, and other educational needs. Click. That is a major plus for me. Is it enough to vote for him, I am not sure yet.

Fast forward to the present. I still live in a community heavily influenced by the LDS church and a red state, but now I'm okay with it. I figure I'll never fit in and I'm getting used to it. I'm a secular homeschooler (almost an oxymoron) without a political party. Instead of a rebel I'd like to say that I forge my own route. I like doing things my way. Most secular homeschoolers do.

Who do you plan on voting for?