Vote… Vote… Vote… Vote…

It would be easy in this bizarro political season to decide that cynicism is the only philosophy that still matches our democratic system.

A lot of voters are angry, adrift, alienated.

Well, this is your chance to dive back in the pool. One of these men — Doug Hoffman or Bill Owens — will represent you and shape your nation in very challenging times.

I know it’s a cliche, but it’s also true: Americans have fought and died for your right to cast this ballot.

What’s more, a lot of Americans have faced far more difficult and ambiguous decisions than the one you have to make today.

Think you’re choosing between the lesser of two evils? Do you wish you had a better choice? Welcome to the real world.

This is the world that democracy operates within. Our politicians are real people. I’ve met both of these candidates. Both strike me as flawed; but they’re also decent, civic-minded men.

They also represent starkly different views about the world, the future of the 23rd district and our country.

So go do what is, in every sense of the word, your duty. It may be a hard choice, it may be an easy choice. The only bad choice is not voting.