For example, in our constitution it is written. All are created equal, and have equal rights. That governments are created in order to secure these rights, but that the government has NO POWER except BY THE CONSENT of the people.

The voting problems in Florida are a prime example of what I consider are also equal rights. Have all voters in Florida been created equal in having their vote counted as they intended to. No. The reason, incompetency. Why are we still using voting machines and card punch ballots that have been known to have an error rate as much as 12%. In this day and age of modern technology, one would think that the newest forms of voting machines would be used. Instead, machines are used that are known to have an error rate. Has anyone bothered to ask why are we still using outdated machinery and is laden with errors. I've always said, politicians do not like to fix what is broken, they love doing away with the good and just things instead.

Over the course of this forty day plus ordeal, I received hundreds of emails from Americans from both parties, age groups and so forth. Everyone felt they were right in their opinions of what was going on and indeed they were entitled to those opinions. What I failed to see in any of these comments was this. The question whether every voters vote was correctly counted was never brought up. Is it wrong in demanding from our elected officials that run our elections that the means are put in place to correctly count every vote? Is that too much to ask ? I don't believe so! And here is why in my opinion.

Our country was based on several rights including freedom of speech and the right to vote to chose our government and officials to run that government. It appears from this fiasco that these very important freedoms have largely been ignored. Politicians find it easy to distort situations so they can validate their demands and purposes in their own causes and this applies to both parties, Democrats and Republicans. Once a country ignores something so important as not only our right to vote, but to have that vote counted correctly, we are on the verge of becoming a country full of despotism. Being ruled by the few under their terms and not that of the masses. Isn't it suppose to be that what the majority of citizens want is how things are suppose to be, what our forefathers fought for us to have. For example, Al Gore won the popular vote, more Americans voted more for him, but is he President? And by the way, I am registered as an Independent and am not advocating Gore over Bush or Bush over Gore. What I am advocating is that we have experienced a very serious problem in our rights as Americans and I hope I am not the only one that sees that. To bad our Justices on the Supreme Court failed to see that.

I truly believe this Christmas that Americans should be thankful that they are Americans above all other things in their lives. They should be thankful that they live in a country based on just and sound principles to protect her citizens. That they live in the only country on earth that is truly made by the people for the people. I pray that Americans have not taken for granted those precious rights and remember that from time to time they will have to take a stand and fight to keep them...because there will always be those that will want to take that power away from the masses and give it to the few. History proves me right on this. It also is just common sense if you look at it. My Grandfather one told me, never, ever just assume things, that will always get you in trouble, and never, ever assume that you never will have to fight for the rights our Constitution gives us. He also said, there will be those that will try to distort and twist it, those that want the power instead of the power being with the masses. Be careful my fellow Americans that we are all not sleeping to much and letting too much get changed around us before its' too late.

I would like to end this column in a lighter note of wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year. We will be entering a century full of promises if only we see them, grown them into something good.

Each year, I like to share the following poem that I wrote a few years ago. I hope that it gives you something special to think about. I dedicate this to my Mother, who was killed by a drunk driver on Christmas Day in 1986.

"A Special Journey"
by David Lawrence Dewey
© February, 1993
All rights reserved

My life is a special journey,
Between my God and Me,
I chose not always the path he sets before me,
Those of joy, pain and sometimes sorrow.

Not until the last songbird sings its last song,
And the doves of peace cease to fly,
Will God pull down the curtain before heaven,
And explain the reasons why.

Until that day arrives,
I will be one with Him,
For in Him, I have found my light, my peace, his love within,
And without that, I would certainly be no more.

~ ~ David Lawrence Dewey