The newspaper reporters in our area, all over the state, arrange interviews with the candidates and question them on their education, experience, and platform. Each reporter arranges separate interviews according to their schedule. Then they print all the information they obtained from each candidate. I pay careful attention to each question and the answers given and it helps me to select the person whom I believe to be the best for the job.

Last fall we had an election for sheriff and one of the men was asked about experiences he had that qualified him to be sheriff. He said, "Well, I ain't never been no deputy or sheriff an I ain't got much education but I'm sho I can handcuff dem drunks and drug sellers." His experience was that he worked 18 years for the county roads department. He was a good employee but he just didn't have what it takes to be a sheriff.

The other candidate was asked the same question and he had a teriffic resume. Former NYPD Captain, Military Police Instructor, college graduate with degree in criminal justice, graduate of a police academy, eight years as chief deputy. Since I didn't know the first man and had met the second man but didn't know anything about his qualifications, those interviews helped me to decide who to vote for.

While that was on the local level, I am an avid reader and try to cover everything I can about politicians on the state and federal level. When it comes time to vote, if I am undecided about a candidate, I try to remember what I read or heard on tv and then go with my gut feeling. That's the best I can do and I will not sacrifice my freedom to vote because someone gets a chip on their shoulder.

If I vote I get the right to b***h about the politician; if I don't vote, then I can't complain if some politician shines his boot on the seat of my pants.