This upcoming election is extremely important to me.  It should be important to all of us.  To that end, I have done a little research.  Okay, I did a LOT of research, and I’m asking you to take a few minutes to read what I’ve come up with, especially if you are wavering as to whom you will vote for in November, or know someone who is.  In that case, please forward this to them.  You might think it a bit lengthy,

but hey, if you’ve taken the time in the last couple of days to read 5 or so Internet jokes that have been circulating, then PLEASE take the time to read this.  It’s much more important and the stakes in November are too high to be unaware of some of the most important legislation of the past few decades that has surely impacted your life, or that of a friend or loved one, in some way or another.  I might add that this year has also made me the most politically active I’ve ever been, on a local level as well, because I’m totally committed to helping achieve the change we so desperately need.  The following is one attempt, for what it’s worth.  THANK A DEMOCRAT

IF you are a woman, and you are enjoying your right to vote, no matter how you vote, thank a Democrat.  Specifically, President Woodrow Wilson and the 65th Democrat-controlled Congress. The 19th amendment to the Constitution was ratified on Aug. 26, 1920.

IF you are a woman, and you are enjoying equal, or at least comparable pay as that of a man (admittedly there is more work to be done in this area), thank a Democrat.  Specifically, President John F. Kennedy and the 88th Democrat-controlled Congress.  The Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963 and it prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of gender by compensating workers differently for jobs that require equal skill, effort and responsibility.

IF you are a woman, a person of color, or have a national origin other than the United States and got into a school or got a job anyway, thank a Democrat.  Specifically, President Lyndon Johnson and the 88th Democrat-controlled Congress.  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and it was a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed racial segregation in schools, public places, and employment.  Conceived to help African-Americans, the bill was amended prior to passage to protect women, and explicitly included white people for the first time.  It also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

IF you are a woman and you value your right to choose, whatever that choice is, thank a Democrat.  Specifically, the Democrat-controlled Supreme Court whose majority opinion on Roe vs. Wade was written by Justice Harry Blackman on January 22, 1973.  He was a Republican conservative who voted with the majority Democrats and then later “drifted left”.  Keep in mind, being pro-choice doesn’t mean you are pro-abortion.  It means you simply appreciate having a choice.

IF you are now, ever have been, (since 1978) or intend to be a pregnant woman who wants to seek employment or continue working in your current job, for your right to do so, thank a Democrat.  Specifically, President Jimmy Carter and the 95th Democrat-controlled Congress.  The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) was passed in 1978 and it prohibits discrimination against pregnant women in all areas of employment, including hiring, firing, seniority rights, job security, and receipt of fringe benefits.  The most controversial features of the bill have been those requiring employers who offer health insurance and temporary disability plans to give coverage to women for pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions.

IF you are a woman and you are now, or ever have been, (since 1994) a victim of violence and didn’t know where to turn, thank a Democrat.  Specifically, Senator Joe Biden, President Bill Clinton, and the 103rd Democrat-controlled Congress.  The Violence Against Women Act was introduced in Congress in January 1991 by Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, the same Joe Biden who is currently running for VP.  The bill was made part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and was signed into law on September 13, 1994, by President Clinton.  The act authorized $1.6 billion to be spent over 6 years on the creation of rape crisis centers and battered women’s shelters and authorized additional local police, prosecutors, victim advocates, and a domestic violence hotline.  Funds were also made available to provide special training for judges who hear domestic violence cases.  Provisions of the act expanded rape shield laws, created offenses for interstate spousal abuse, and allowed victims of gender-based crimes to sue those responsible in Federal court.

IF you are a parent who has benefited from the Child Support Recovery Act of 1992, thank a Democrat.   Specifically, the 102nd Democrat-controlled Congress and President Bill Clinton.  The bill makes the willful failure to pay a past due support obligation with respect to a child residing in another state a federal offense.  The intent of the statute was to prevent non-custodial parents from fleeing across state lines to avoid paying their child support obligations and to facilitate recovery of unpaid child support.

IF you are someone who had to take up to 12 weeks off from work to tend to a family medical emergency, and you were given your same job (or one of comparable pay and responsibility) when you returned, and had your same health benefits while you were gone, thank a Democrat.  Specifically President Bill Clinton and the 103rd Democrat-controlled Congress.  The Family & Medical Leave Bill was passed in Feb. of 1993.  It assures that upon return from a family medical leave absence, an employee must be returned to the same position, or to an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, status, and other terms and conditions of employment.  Also, an employee who takes family leave is entitled to maintain health benefits coverage.

IF you are someone who has ever benefited from the Freedom of Information Act, either personally or through what media outlets and others have been able to gather on behalf of the public, thank a Democrat.   Specifically,  the 89th Democrat-controlled Congress and President Lyndon Johnson who signed it into law on July 4, 1966.  

On the subject of the environment and wildlife: 

IF you are someone who appreciates the effect of the Marine Protection and Sanctuaries Act (also known as the Ocean Dumping Act) of 1972, thank a Democrat.   Specifically,  the 92nd Democrat-controlled Congress.  That, and the Clean Water Act were passed and together they set a global standard for managing environmental restoration and protection, for maintaining the environment within acceptable standards, for prohibiting the disposal of waste materials into the ocean, and for regulating the discharge of wastes through pipelines into the ocean.

IF you are someone who recognizes the significance of the very first Clean Air Act, thank a Democrat.  Specifically, the 91st Democrat-controlled Congress, which enacted the law in 1970.

IF you are someone who was happy with the passage of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, thank a Democrat.   Specifically,   the 93rd Democrat-controlled Congress.  It was enacted to replace/enhance the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969, also passed by a Democratically-controlled Congress (the 91st).

I imagine you have guessed by now where I’m going with this. Can you see the pattern?  All I ask is that you think carefully before voting this November.   When it comes down to individual rights of citizens, especially women, the environment, and a host of other issues, the Democrats have clearly done the right thing over many decades.  With your vote in November, they can continue to do so. While there are many more issues that need to be addressed in order to assure individual rights, especially if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, I can pretty much guarantee that those issues will NOT be advanced in a 3rd term Republican administration. On Election day…  Vote responsibly, Drink moderately, then Pray like hell!!!!