Election: Vote Tuesday!

Posted November 1, 2009, 11:58 p.m.

This Tuesday is election day. If you happen to live somewhere that is holding an election—like the entire Commonwealth of Virginia—be sure to vote. Virginians will be casting ballots for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, the House of Delegates, and various other local issues. While these elections consistently get less attention and fewer voters than elections for President of the United States, they are arguably more important. State governments have a huge impact on individuals’ quality of life, often much more so than the federal government.

As has been the case since 2004, Off on a Tangent will be providing live election-night coverage on Tuesday. Coverage will commence as the polls close at 7pm and will continue until I have made calls for all elections I’m following, or midnight (whichever comes first). In addition to live results for all races in which I have made endorsements, I’ll also report any worthy election night news in a ‘live blog’ form. If any races remain un-called at midnight, coverage will re-start with occasional updates (as time permits) on Wednesday.

I’ve stated my opinions about these races, but whether you agree with me or not it is very important that you exercise your right to vote. See you at the polls!

Scott Bradford has been putting his opinions on his website since 1995—before most people knew what a website was. He has been a professional web developer in the public- and private-sector for over twenty years. He is an independent constitutional conservative who believes in human rights and limited government, and a Catholic Christian whose beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He loves Pink Floyd and can play the bass guitar . . . sort-of. He’s a husband, pet lover, amateur radio operator, and classic AMC/Jeep enthusiast.

Quotes

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

But if it should happen, as it often does, that the temporal power and authorities . . . should urge a subject to do contrary to the Commandments of God, or hinder him from doing them, there obedience ends, and that duty is annulled.

To do evil a human being must first of all believe that what he’s doing is good, or else that it’s a well-considered act in conformity with natural law.

No other teacher in the world [but Jesus] ever said that it would take a violent death to clarify his teachings.

Our virtues and our failings are inseparable, like force and matter. When they separate, man is no more.

State power is no more to be used so as to handicap religions than it is to favor them.

Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.

There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.

You can miss the target by shooting too high as well as too low.

Building from scratch isn’t too different from building from a kit, except that you have to make your own kit.

Christian morality and God’s law are not arbitrary, but are specifically given to us for our happiness.

If I didn’t know, from my own case, that I’m conscious, my knowledge of your neural processes would give me no reason to suspect that you are.

It is infinitely better to have a few good men than many indifferent ones.

We often hear that love, happiness, or personal contentment constitute the means of a good marriage and reasons to redefine marriage, but these things are the fruits of marriage, not the nature of marriage.

Other things being equal, it is better to be smart than to be stupid.

When you get into trouble 5,000 miles from home, you’ve got to have been looking for it.

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.

A modest man is steady, an humble man timid, and a vain one presumptuous.

One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.