The race for the White House is all we hear about. Without being for one candidate or party over the other, I have some thoughts and observations to share.

Democracy is fragile. Democracy is work. Democracy needs thinking voters who study the issues and discuss them. Democracy is majority rule. Democracy is reasoned judgment. Democracy is education of the classroom and education of the workplace, education in daily life, and education of daily living. Democracy is the field of common consensus and of common sense. Democracy can die in heat of partisan bickering. Democracy is precious. Democracy can die if we don't lovingly tend it like a garden, a garden that promises a fruitful future.

President John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address in 1961, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!" Thrilling words, but how does America want to rephrase that today through the policies made by representatives and leaders? Why do Americans look at every proposal on how it will benefit them only rather than for the "common good" as "We the People" state in the Preamble of the United States Constitution.

There are fears on both sides that the election will be stolen. Surely, we can figure a way to guarantee one person, one vote. Dead folks shouldn't have a say and non-citizens shouldn't have a say, and convicted felons shouldn't have a say. Why can't we dip our thumb in the "purple ink" like they did in Afghanistan? It seemed to work for them; citizens didn't get to vote more than once in the same election. People who vote more than once should lose their vote for life. States ought to have the same registration procedures for voting in federal elections because we all share the results of those elections. Yes, I know controlling elections is a state responsibility under the Constitution. So, fix it! I'm tired of everybody feeling like their side got ripped off.

If you vote for a candidate because they are of a certain race, you are a racist. If you vote against a candidate because of race, you are a racist. When you vote for one candidate over another, you should not be judged a racist if you have fairly evaluated the positions of the other candidate and find you cannot support their policies.

Being a young candidate does not mean that a person is incompetent. Being an older, mature candidate does not mean that a person is incompetent. Being a young candidate does not mean that the candidate is better because of youth. Being an older candidate does not mean the candidate is better because of age.

Voting for one candidate because they are of one sex or another, is sexist. Voting for someone because they are from one of the coastal elites doesn't make a candidate good or bad any more than voting for or against a candidate because they are from a small town.

Choosing a candidate should be simple with a side-by-side tally sheet. Here's the plan on health care. Here's the plan for defense. Here's the plan for spending on schools. Choose A or choose B. Put it in black and white; lay it out and save the TV advertising money for a good cause. Politicians should not try to buy votes. Politicians should not insult our intelligence. I want the issues discussed and clear solutions suggested. Just how many dollars were spent "to buy votes" and once they have them, what is their real purpose in wanting them. Is it to make the nation better and stronger or to promote their agenda that will benefit their buddies and donors?

Democracy should be conducted from "gathered information" that allows reflection on the consequences for the whole. We get most of our information in "sound bites" that are 90% meaningless, trite, vague and insulting to democracy. Decisions of American democracy deserve more than just being determined by a TV blurp, a sound bite, movie bias, screamed message on a sound track, movie star endorsements, TV talk show pundits, commentators with "over-talking panels," Saturday Night Live skits, and Comedy Central funnies. It seems like we want democratic government to be served up in a gourmet like meal, but we want it prepared like fast food.

I've heard that Australia has a pretty good plan. As I understand it, the last week before elections, all advertising ceases and the dust is allowed to settle before a vote is taken. How about that - a week with no political ads and news commentary, just Americans talking to each other over coffee and then making their decision based on the information they have gathered.

Glen Dillman, Flora, is a social studies teacher at Carroll Jr.- Sr. High School and a former Indiana Teacher of the Year.