Pretty interesting article today about the U.S. getting election advice from outsiders. From former President Jimmy Carter to election observers from Europe and other areas of the world (Tajikistan!?!?), they are trying to help the U.S. fix any lingering issues with making sure votes count, voters who should vote can vote, elimination of voter fraud, etc.

Of course, there are some who think that since the U.S. is perfect, there is no need for observers:

“What do foreign observers bring to American elections?” Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Florida, wrote to constituents. “We are not a country suppressed by tyranny and aggression; we are a free nation built upon a foundation of citizen democracy.”

Very true, we aren’t a country full of tyranny and aggression (despite what many think of Bush). However, we aren’t perfect either. There is always areas to improve. There are always new ideas to try out. Fresh eyes, who don’t work within the American voting system since they aren’t citizens, are required. Just like any good project at school or work sometimes needs an outside review to get over that line that separates “good enough” and “spectacular,” even the U.S. needs some outside help sometimes.

Why is it that some Republicans feel that any advise from the outside is worse then not making sure every voter has his/her’s vote count?

I maybe a registered independent. Sometimes, you just look at a group of politicans and just laugh at their own stupidity. Its really sad.

What makes America great is how we should allow outside opinions of our system of goverment and voting process. Even our Founding Fathers, who built as close to a perfect system as you could get in my view, aren’t 100% perfect.

If there was anything good that has come out of the debacle that was the 2000 election (unless you are a Republican and voted for George Bush I suppose, although I don’t know how anyone can call such a flawed and poorly run election a success for either side), it is the fact that it appears there are record amount of new registered voters this election year.

Apparently both of the major parties have poured tons of resources into getting new voters registered, especially in the wake that a few states had extremely small margins of victory. Old and new voters alike also realize how important each of their votes are.

While my personal view is there is no excuse not to have voted in the past if you were elgible, I am very glad that one excuse I hope I hear less of in the future is “I was planning to vote but didn’t find the time to” or something along those lines.

With absentee ballots, early voting, and well advertised polling places for voting day, there is no excuse to not find time to vote.

If you don’t exercise your right to vote, in my view you don’t have the right to criticize the government or to be involved in politics. Many have died so all of us in American have the right to vote. The system isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I rather have this system then something like what China and Russia have right now.

So go register to vote. For the sake of democracy in America. Please.

If you have any questions on how and why you should register to vote, MSNBC has a great FAQ on the whole process.