My work in politics came close to intruding on an old friendship today, one of the few I've maintained over the years.
My friend (I'll refrain from using names and specific locations) has always been of a moderate-to-conservative bent - more likely than not to vote Republican. I called him today, just to get back in touch, and when he asked what I'd been doing the past six months, I mentioned that I'd been campaigning. (I tend not to advertise which campaign I'm working for if I'm unsure of the other person's politics, given the polarizing influence of this campaign.)
Anyway, he mentioned that although he respects Kerry, he's voting for Bush - for purely personal reasons.
He owns a small insurance company, incorporated as a Sub-S corporation, and he fears that under a Kerry administration, his taxes will rise dramatically - the S-corp's income counts towards his personal income for IRS purposes.
If I'd learned this two months ago, I would have done lots of research into the topic - maybe find ways for him to get out of it - but not in a single day. It's not worth the argument, and it's not worth sacrificing the friendship.
He's married, with two children, and he's worried about providing for his children as best he can. He wasn't passionate about the whole thing, though - he respects Kerry, and is seriously disenchanted with Bush's overseas adventures - plus he's got a cousin in the New Jersey National Guard who just was shipped out now, and will be in Iraq until at least mid-2006.
Cousin's voting Kerry - of that, there's no doubt. So in effect, the two votes cancel each other out, I suppose.
Still and all, my friend respects my decision, and didn't try to change my mind, so I owe him the same, I figure, at least this close to D-Day. I did mention that I was hoping and praying his kids didn't ultimately pay the price for his choice, a sentiment with which he agreed - I think the fundamental difference between us is that he's not AFRAID of Bush the way so many of us are.
Maybe after the election, I'll look into ways he might convert the S-corporation into a traditional corporation or something, to separate his personal income from the company's income as far as the IRS is concerned.
If Kerry wins.
If Bush wins ... I suddenly realize that I haven't been able to allow myself to admit the possibility, especially after working so hard this past year to prevent that event from coming to pass...