Get Out The Vote

Today was a teacher work day. What this means is that teachers, which get out of work earlier than most other professions, get to have flexibility to go and vote today. What it also means is that everyone out there has to drag their bratty kids (including me) to the polls. Great planning. So, the boys and Ivey and I walked across the street to our polling place. I made sure to go after the morning rush and before lunch... and it paid off. I walked in and went right to the booth. Our neighbor, J.P., was there working the polls and kept an eye on the boys as my back was turned. I had told them to stand in the rectangle made of masking tape that was on the carpet. I think it only half worked. But, my ballot was cast and my civic duty was done. We each got a sticker and we were out the door.

Asa and Addison informed me that they would be voting at school tomorrow. They knew that one choice was Obama, but couldn't remember the other (yeah- you can tell who's monopolized the media, huh?). I told them the other guy's name was McCain and they asked me who I had voted for. McCain, I told them... and they asked why. Well... let's see...

I told them that Obama wants everything to be "fair" by taking money from rich people to give to poor people. I told them that I believe we should give to charities and help through our churches but that I didn't think the President should make everyone give money so that he could give it to other people. I asked them to think back to last year's school Easter Egg Hunt.

"Do you remember when you all hunted eggs at school?", I asked.
"Yes"
"You know how you guys ran around and looked really hard to find eggs and found a bunch, but then the teachers took all the eggs and made sure that everyone had 12... even the kids who didn't feel like hunting eggs?"
"Yes, that wasn't fair!" They exclaimed.
"Well, I don't think Obama would be a good President because he wants to take our eggs to give them to people who didn't work to find their own."
"Well, Mim's egg hunt doesn't do that! We get to keep all our eggs at Mim's house!"
"Yes" I said. "And if Cameron only found 4 eggs but you found 64..."
"Then we could help him to find more!"
(At this point I smiled a huge smile at the fact that my five year olds understand the benefit of a hand UP versus a hand OUT.)
"Or, you could even share your eggs with him. But, I don't think Mim should take everyone's eggs and divide them up."
"No, that wouldn't be fair at all!"
Then, Addison asked, "If Obama takes people's money to give out to other people and there's any left, does he keep it? That wouldn't be nice at all!"
My boys are thinking. Five year olds understand the faults with the concept of wealth redistribution. It doesn't sound patriotic, neighborly, or fair. It sounds wrong.

Now, I get to find out if the boys explain to the teachers why they aren't going to vote for Obama... using the school's very own Socialist Egg Hunt! I'm sure I'll be a great topic at the Parents Meetings!