In good times, the decision to vote, or not to vote, is as carefree as the winds of freedom gently blowing through the trees.

For in good times, not much can go wrong, and regardless of who wins, the tree leaves will still sing softly the sweet music of liberty.

But these are not the best of times, in fact, they are reminiscent of the 1930’s.­ The free world is being stressed economically and by great political change throughout the Muslim world.

Here at home, two starkly opposed ideologies with dramatically different foreign policy objectives are asking for your vote.

One party seeks to carry this nation deeper into socialism and Marxist ideals of human equality under a vision that erases borders and weakens capitalism.

It is a system in which all become pawns to a mighty and powerful government that owes higher allegiance to global powers at the expense of its people under the scheme of collectivism.

In this vision, America is equal in power with other nations.­ Under this ideal, the American government separates itself from the people, as it has in the latest example of making it clear to the world that the U.S. government had nothing to do with a YouTube video made by an American citizen found offensive by Muslims.

Is a government “by the people” so easily divorced from the people it represents?

The other party seeks to retain exceptional status of the United States as the world’s predominant superpower.­ A status achieved after the bloodshed of WW II and won after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It is a vision that empowers individuals to succeed and reap the rewards of intellectual labor in pursuit of personal fortune. Not at the expense of society, but for the benefit of all.

It defines nationality and respects borders under the rule of law.­ Under this vision, America leads the world by defending legitimate democracies that seek peaceful coexistence with its neighbors.

It is a vision that stands up for its citizens by promoting the values we hold dear.­ It cautions world governments to be tolerant of free speech without distancing itself from it.

It rigorously holds murderous religious fanatics accountable for killing Americans for exercising freedom of speech.

We live in a new and volatile world where “faux-democracies” have sprung up in the Arab world.­ The “elected” Muslim brotherhood, now leading Egypt, has called for the arrest of a U.S. citizen for making a video offensive to Islam.

A Pakistan government minister has posted a $100,000 bounty on the video maker.­­ The “elected” Hamas in Palestine has given Israel two choices:­ Leave or die.­ The rise of anti-Israel and anti-American violent protest in over 20 Islamic countries is fanning flames of hate as you read this.

Islamic countries have upped their push for a global anti-Muslim defamation law through the U.N.

In her remarks at the State Department this past week, Hillary Clinton told Moroccan leaders that “America is focused on promoting interfaith education and collaboration, enforcing antidiscrimination laws, protecting the rights of all people to worship as they choose.”

“And, to use some old-fashioned techniques of peer pressure and shaming, so that people don’t feel that they have the support to do what we abhor.”

Did she really say “peer pressure and shaming?”­ Then why is the federal government investigating this filmmaker?

Sounds like government harassment on a citizen in order to appease intolerant Muslims.

The future of our country and the freedoms we hold dear could very well be decided over the next four years.

Apart from the single issue voter who cannot be swayed, is the world better off with a weak, apologetic America, or a strong America that stands firmly on the principles of freedom and real democracy?

Something to consider as you weigh the vote.