Yep, the Democratic and Republican Conventions are over and…..oh, you thought I meant the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Yea, I guess they begin today, but it’s the “Trump vs Hillary” games that are really going to be interesting.

Actually the thought for the next few months could be called, “The War Has Started.” Facts will be altered, changed, rearranged and perhaps downright falsified, probably from both parties. Those negative ads will be something and probably not a shred of truth in any one of them……but it sure is gonna be interesting, right?

With all this in mind, question loom; Have you already decided and absolutely nothing is gonna change your mind?

Or are you part of that small, very small percentage of people that have not completely made up your mind yet?

Do you consider all the issues of each candidate than make a composite comparison of them with each other?

Or are you simply a one or perhaps two issue person and vote with the person that matches up with your views?

Following you will find some of the major issues facing us today and you get the privilege of deciding what is and what is not important to YOU. I will share my thoughts at the very end of this column.

* Immigration! Do you call them undocumented immigrants or illegal aliens or in a softer tone, illegal immigrants? Isn’t the wording important? I remember years ago a used car for sale was called a used car. Today it’s called “pre-driven.” Sounds nicer, I guess. So what do you think about our immigration system here in the United States? Important, not important or who cares?

* Which begs the next question; Do we build a wall on our southern border or just sort of leave things the way they’ve been for years and just continue talking about the issue?

* Here’s a biggie! Where do you stand on guns and the 2nd Amendment? Study this one carefully and understand the verbiage completely. Is it the gun or is it the person?

* Next, what are your thoughts on the war on terror? Are we currently doing the right stuff and enough of the right stuff or should we do even more? This is important, don’t you think?

* Then there’s the issue of abortion. Are you pro-choice, pro-life or somewhere in between? Can you be somewhere in between? Can you be a person that believes life begins at conception and still feel comfortable voting for a person that’s pro-choice? This is a most important moral issue. In fact, think about this–When exactly does life begin??? Hmmmmmmmm

* How’s your thoughts on climate change and global warming? Is this an important enough issue to choose someone over another? Maybe, maybe not!

* What about the economy, race relations, terrorism, etc? Are we better off than we were eight to ten years ago. Feel safer? Are we an angrier nation today?

* Then of course there’s the huge issue of national health care. Is Obamacare the best there is or is there something better out there?

* And finally have you thought about this; the next President will probably choose perhaps three Supreme Court Justices. Kind of important just who that President might be, don’t you think?

I’m sure I missed several if not more major issues that each candidate faces today, but these are some that quickly come to mind here. As for me, I’ve always said that I’m not or never have been the brightest light bulb in the Sheda household. I’m sort of a 45 watt bulb in a package of three other 100 watt bulbs. So I am most definitely a one-issue person–that all life is valuable and that each and every live begins at the moment of conception. And the taking of any life, even life in the womb, is murder. And I shall use my one vote to speak for me.

THATS THE WAY I SEE IT.

Let me know how you see it at jsheda@indytel.com or call me at 319-327-4640.