This is not a political blog and it’s not about to become one. But I will say this: If you are an American citizen caught up in this election storm, please consider voting for Barack Obama this November 4. Why?

I am not a registered member of a political party, not even the Democratic Party—I think my views are far too left even for that. But I will be voting for Obama with great excitement, and great responsibility for the future, this November.

Women far more articulate than I have laid out reasons worth reading, women such as Michelle Fabio, Stephanie Kuehnert, and Gloria Steinem. I wanted to be voting for a woman in this election, but vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is not that woman—please visit Women Against Sarah Palin for nonpartisan views of why she cannot be supported.

Election ads cannot be trusted, on both sides—so seek out some truth on FactCheck.org.

If you are not registered to vote please register as soon as possible—the cut-off dates are fast approaching. This is an election worth voting in. This election cannot be ignored.

I’m sorry to break out of my usual mold, but the fear of losing my rights and seeing this country go even more off the deep end than it is now under the current administration is too much to ignore. It’s a wonder I’m able to write my novel at all. And now back to our regularly scheduled programming about a struggling fiction writer who selfishly thinks only of herself and how hard it is to be a writer with a day job wah-wah-wah, woe is me, you know, the usual.

p.s. Vote!