Election time again. Living in northwest Indiana, we are inundated with Illinois political ads on Chicago television. Of course, most candidates use their campaign funds to belittle their opponents rather than tout their own record. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, abortion became the hot campaign topic. In Illinois, that means accusing your opponent of being pro-life! Our society has stooped to the point where protecting the lives of unborn children has become a reprehensible offense in the eyes of many on the left.
Even here in mostly conservative Indiana, a black woman, US Air Force Veteran, running for Indiana’s First Congressional District, is being targeted by ads repeatedly showing a clip of her saying she is “100 percent pro-life”. Ads do not even mention her opponent as if being pro-life should automatically be reason enough not to vote for her regardless of the alternative. Too bad unborn babies can’t be given a proxy.
I can understand how abortion would be a hot topic for those running for legislative offices, but why should it be so prominent in the Illinois Supreme Court race? Two seats on the court are being contested, each featuring a female Democrat running against a male Republican. Campaign ads for the Democrats boast of their pro-abortion endorsements by Planned Parenthood. Other ads accuse their Republican opponents of being pro-life. No Judge should be pushing a political agenda.
Judges do not legislate. A judge must be fair, unbiased, and follow the law. Running on a biased agenda should immediately disqualify that person for the job. Stating a personal bias on an issue that could eventually wind up in front of the Court should eliminate that judge from ruling on the case. People with little understanding of the basic branches of government are not only voting, but also getting elected.
I am suspicious of the efforts to make voting easier. It takes little effort to register and cast a vote. What does take some effort is to study the issues, filter the campaign rhetoric, and make a responsible thoughtful decision in the voting booth. If a person has so little stake in government as to need coaxing or incentives before casting a vote, perhaps that person should stay home. Elections should not be decided by the disengaged.
