Let the official presidential election year begin!
Tonight’s the Iowa caucuses. After that the focus moves on to New Hampshire where in five days there’ll be another vote on the candidates. From then on we’re in for one heck of a ride.
Because no matter what happens along the way or who wins the final election, this voting year is already going down in the record books. How can it not with the first black man running for President as well as a woman?
Do You Know Your Spouse’s Political Temperament?
Is this your first voting year together as a couple, or your 40th?
If it’s your first, did you already know which way your husband or wife was politically inclined before you got married? Do you know if they even are politically inclined? (i.e. Has he or she ever voted before?) Or are you going to find all that out as you progress through this year?
Similarly, even if you’ve been together through several elections, do you discuss your political ideologies, or keep them to yourself? If not, why not? Do you know which issues your husband or wife feels most passionately about? Do you know who your spouse would vote for if the election was held tomorrow? More importantly, do you know why they’d pick that person?
Great Year to Learn More About Your Spouse
Healthcare, the economy (i.e. the home loan problems and rising oil prices), energy source worries, the War on Terror/the war in Iraq…these are just some of the issues facing the candidates this election season.
Do you know how your spouse feels about any of these? Or what other issues are important to them and what kind of a position they’re looking for a leader to take on them?
For instance, the first presidential election that both Wayne and I could vote in was in 1992. It was enlightening for both of us.
Not only did I learn that Wayne was a Republican and had wanted the incumbent George H. W. Bush to win, he learned that I had democratic tendencies when I campaigned for Clinton.
Proceed with Caution
Politics can rank right up there with money and religion as a cause of rancor in a marriage.
As you might imagine, during the election of 1992 Wayne and I debated plenty about why we believed our candidate deserved our vote. We both tried to sway the other to our side, and sometimes our discussions got a little heated.
We still don’t always agree on candidates, but (a) we’ve come to expect this and (b) we respect the differences in our choosing processes.
Something to keep in mind this election year. Because none of the candidates is worthy of breaking up a marriage over!
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