Reply #28: To me, it's a matter of whom it affects and how.

[Withywindle]

Personally, I don't believe it makes any difference to me what the person sitting next to me on the bus believes in a religious sense. (I don't belong to a religion that believes in proselytizing or "saving souls.") Religion is a matter between an individual, God(s), their clergy, family, etcetera. Ultimately, it is personal. Unless they try to push it into the political agenda--and if their values say they should do that, well, bully for them, but I'll fight it tooth and nail. Otherwise, leave it alone.

Politics, however, affects everyone's lives very directly. It is literally a matter of life and death. People die because of the way others vote. Look at the carnage in Iraq--would President Gore have done that? Would President Kerry have abandoned thousands to die in New Orleans? Sure, both men have their flaws but I do strongly believe the answer is NO. And you can extrapolate this to all political levels and all kinds of issues. Whether I vote for someone who will improve health care or workplace safety or environmental stewardship may very well mean life or death for someone, so it's a responsibility that's much bigger than a personal matter.