Gary Zukav On The Importance Of Voting

I first heard of Gary Zukav 10 years ago and he's been a huge influence on my life since. His books, The Dancing Wu Li Masters and The Seat of The Soul, opened my mind and heart to new ways of looking at the world. Gary sees our universe as a peaceful place where people coexist in harmony. He believes God intended it to be that way and if you read his work or watch his lectures you will believe it's possible too. He has a peace and gentleness about him that is rare in our time.

He recently wrote about voting in the November 4th election. Here is some of what he had to say....

It is time to vote. The most important presidential election, perhaps in American history, is approaching. Voting is your only way to determine what you want, what you stand for, what your life is about. When you “throw away” your opportunity to vote, you vote anyway. You vote for apathy, indifference, powerlessness.

What you vote for gets elected. You are the only one voting in the election. The candidates are always love and fear. Love runs on the harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for Life ticket. It presents itself as gratitude, caring, patience, contentment, appreciation, and more. Fear runs on the discord, competition, hoarding, and exploitation ticket. It presents itself as anger, jealousy, resentment, superiority, inferiority, need to dominate, need to please, and every obsessive thought that you think (such as, He is so stupid; I am so stupid), every compulsive activity you engage (such as workaholism, perfectionism, savior searching), and your every addictive behavior (such over-eating, smoking, gambling, watching pornography, shopping, alcohol, drugs).

Listen carefully to the candidates that are running for election. Get to know them. Let yourself imagine what it would be like to live in the world they want to create. Do you want to live that world? Each time you vote, the candidate you choose wins. You act on your anger or not, challenge your jealousy or not, indulge the need to please or not. You can lose the ability to vote in a democratic election. It is not guaranteed and it would not exist without the courage and blood that were required to create and maintain it. Don’t throw that courage and sacrifice away. Love your neighbors enough, including those who have come before you, to honor their gifts. People like you have died so that you can vote. Voting in a democratic election is that precious.

You will never lose your ability to vote for love or fear. It cannot be taken from you and you have no option but to use it. Each moment that you are angry you must challenge your anger or act on it, challenge your impatience or act on it, challenge your sense of hopelessness or let it control you. Each moment you vote for the world that you want to live in by choosing a loving part of your personality or a frightened part. No one counts your vote. Each vote creates consequences that you encounter in the intimacy of your own experience. Only your vote stands between you and the life that you want to live, between joy and pain, between meaning and emptiness.

It's time to vote...Love, Gary

Take a moment to ponder these things as you stand in line to vote. If you've decided not to vote in the election, think about your reasons and if they serve you well. If they don't..now is the time to choose to do something different.

Read Before Voting

As the 2008 US Presidential election looms on the horizon, I have to remind myself to stay calm. For the first time in my life I truly care about the outcome. I honestly think that one candidate is a better choice. In past election years I've been known to say, "I voted but I voted for the lesser of two evils." Not this year.

I won't tell you how to vote, never, but I will implore you to be an informed voter. Dig deeper than the soundbites and political ads. Make sure you understand the issues so that when one campaign or their mouthpieces attempts to twist the truth (this used to be called lying) you will know it is happening.

Here are a few books that will help you along the way. I've found these to be the most balanced portrayals of modern politics and the pressing issues facing a new president. I have more if you finish these but this is a good place to start.

The Arbinger Institute's The Anatomy of Peace is the best book, in my opinion, on how to foster peace in the world, but also in your community and your home. It's easy to understand and a quick read. The authors use the Jewish/Arab conflict as a backdrop for some of life's most important lessons.


Beyond Tolerance, is an in depth look at the other side of the post 9/11 world. We are bombarded with hateful/fearful rhetoric about terrorists, what they look like and who we should fear, and the religious divisions since the attack. This book thoughtfully shines a light on people of all religions who were prompted by the events of 9/11 to come together in love and compassion and resist the easy path of hate.

The author shows us, through the work of others, that it is possible and necessary to not just tolerate religious differences but to embrace them as our founding fathers did. Knowledge of and respect for the views of others are imperative in our shrinking world. The United States is filled with many different religious groups. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Shik, Buddhist...we are all Americans.

Alpha Dogs is a very interesting look at the two men who formed
Sawyer Miller, the political consultant firm who served as backroom strategists on every presidential contest from Richard Nixon’s to George W. Bush's. You will never watch a campaign ad again without thinking about these men and the way they changed campaign strategy forever.

Just remember, to a campaign strategist you are a consumer not a voter. They want you to buy not think. If you think too much you might see through the smoke screen and actually vote your conscience. What a concept that is!..to vote your conscience. Next time you watch a campaign ad, think of it like an ad for kids cereal or a new car. See if you can find the similarities and then give it as much weight as you do the ads for Lucky Charms and the new Hummer.

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama and Faith of My Fathers by John McCain. If you really want to understand the choice before you, you must read these two books. How better to know a man than from his own words.

Please vote. Please vote responsibly. The future of our children depends on you exercising your civic duty. There are only a few more days to register to vote. Register today.

Global Warming - Who Has The Answer

I think 90% of the world is now in agreement that climate change/global warming is real. There are still those hold out and conspiracy theorists who refuse to see the writing on the wall but that is how it is with every important issue that's faced our nation and the world....there is always a group of nay sayers.

For a while I thought the American Government would linger too long with the disbelievers but it seems with the presidential race and presidential legacies on the line, governmental positions are changing. But will it be enough to make a difference?

The old guard of skeptics are leaving the White House and we have a chance to lead the nations of the world to solve this problem. That leaves me wondering, of the remaining candidates for US president, who has the best policy proposals to change the course of our future? Who has the commitment to make the tough decisions?

Grist Magazine has put together a comprehensive chart to help people like me make up my mind. Each of the candidates ideas and stances are laid out in an easy to understand format. Please check this out and read the information provided. It's very important.

Allow me to spotlight two of the issues: Cap and Trade Prgrams for Greenhouse Emmissions and Fuel Economy Standards.


Hillary Clinton: Supports a cap-and-trade system to cut U.S. emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Supports raising fuel standards to 40 mpg by 2020 and 55 mpg by 2030.

Barack Obama: Supports a cap-and-trade system to cut U.S. emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Supports raising standards for cars to 40 mpg and light trucks to 32 mpg by 2020.

John McCain: Supports a cap-and-trade system. Coauthor of the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, which would cap emissions from utilities, industry, and transport at 2004 levels by 2012 and then gradually decrease emissions to about 30% of 2004 levels by 2050. Supports raising standards vehicles, but has not named a specific target. In 2002, introduced legislation that would have raised standards to 36 mpg by 2016.

Mitt Romney: Does not support a cap-and-trade system unless the rest of the world participates. For fuel efficiency he, Opposes raising standards on their own outside of a broader energy plan. Calls for other steps to make the U.S. auto fleet more efficient.

Mike Huckabee - Supports a cap-and-trade system, but hasn't gotten specific about targets. Supports raising standards to 35 mpg by 2020.

In our nation we have an important decision to make about who will be the best steward of our environment and who will inspire all of us to make the needed sacrafices and changes. Dig deep and do the research. In my opinion, none of the candidates go as far as I would like. They seem afraid to take a serious stand for consequential action but at least solutions are on the table. That's a change for the better.

Visit the candidates websites and read their full positions. But first educate yourself by visiting globalwarming 101.com, Climatecrisis.net, and the Union of Concerned Scientists to arm yourself with the scientific facts needed to make a clear assessment of the issues.

I am optimistic about our future. There is a ground swell, a movement, an awakening that we must act now. I believe we will. To get us started on the right path, we need a leader who is bold, innovative, free of the influence of corporations who resist change, and as determined to end global warming as a past president was about going to the moon.

Super Tuesday - Will You or Won't You?

If you are a citizen of the United States of America and live in one of the 22 Super Tuesday States, you have something to do on February 5th. Get out and vote.

Can you feel the ground swell in our country? Something amazing is happening. We are waking up to new opportunities, new ideas, and new choices. We are lifting our heads and turning away from the distractions of life long enough to realize that every individual matters. We do know what is best for our country. We are capable of thinking through and solving our complicated problems. We are an intelligent nation and don't need Washington political junkies or pundits to tell us "the factual facts". We think just fine for ourselves, thank you.

I attribute this awakening to a critical mass of discontent around our nation. No matter our political leanings, we all seem to be dissatisfied with the status quo and we are clamoring to be heard en masse.

The voter turn out in all of the early primaries has been astounding with record numbers of people turning out to the polls from every walk of life. When I attended the Nevada Democratic caucus last month, I had such low expectations and apparently so did the organizers. I walked into a modest room at a local school and started gathering a few chairs for the Obama participants. By one hour before the caucus there was no air left in the room, much less an empty seat. Over 100 people packed into a space the size of a classroom eager to help their candidate to the White House. It was beyond amazing.

This showing has become the norm around the country with lines around the corner in South Carolina. I remember hearing on the radio that by 10AM one of the large counties had already surpassed the number of people who voted in the 2004 Presidential Primary.

So if you live in one of the states on the list below, you have the right to be excited and hopeful about our nation's future. When you head to the polls next Tuesday you will become an important part of history. I think this time will be remembered as the election year when the American people took back their democracy and claimed ownership of the rights so hard won in the Constitution.

Some of the Super Tuesday States are primaries and some are caucuses. Please do the work to find out how to cast your ballot in your state. From experience, I can tell you it is very empowering to research and learn for yourself how our government works. Then go to your polling place and make your voice heard.

One of our candidates keeps saying that she has found her voice. Well, I've found mine, too and I voted for the candidate that speaks for me. I urge each of you to find YOUR voice and let it be heard. Shout from the rooftops so Washington hears us. Our opinions are valid and deserve to be heard.

Here is the list of Super Tuesday States:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Idaho (Democratic Party Only)
Illinois
Kansas (Democratic Party Only)
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
New Jersey
New Mexico (Democratic Party Only)
New York
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Utah
and American Samoa

Don't wait until the general election in November to speak your mind, especially if you support a candidate that's not the front runner. Without you they may not be there to vote for when you are ready.