I gathered my own facts, discussed with my close friends (both liberals and in betweens), had late night sessions with my (conservative) husband and thought I was prepared to vote.  I was a school teacher for many years but never joined my local union because I never agreed with it. It seemed a little too similar to the communism party I was born into. The union was just a little odd, in my eyes, I couldn't be a part of it.

"I can take care of myself. " I said, as a 22 year old teacher at Maycrest High School. Even after 6 years of teaching, I never joined my local teacher's union.

I was going to vote YES on Issue 2. (Here's a brief history: The Ohio Collective Bargaining Limit Repeal appeared on the November 8, 2011 general election ballot in the state of Ohio as a veto referendum. The measure would repeal legislation that limits collective bargaining for public employees in the state.")

Until I looked at my my three American-born, American-bred children that reminded me that they too wanted a chance to become teachers. A shark trainer that teaches sharks to jump. A horse-back riding instructor that teaches young children. A mathematician that teaches others about numbers. All of them enamored by their teachers with dreams of their own. They looked up at me and asked me what I was voting for. I was suddenly tongue tied and perplexed - I could not accurately justify my vote to my children.

Last minute change of heart...  I voted for NO on Issue 2. Why? Because I looked into my children's eyes and, well, the rest is history. The future is theirs.