So today marks quite an epoch, but nobody's yet sure just which kind of epoch we're about to befall.  No matter what, a 1st is about to be marked- the first minority/bi-racial president, or the first female vice-president.  I think that it's hardly worth noting the novelty of "oldest first term president ever", but in saying so, I note that I've noted it.

But here at Peeled Snacks, we don't pick one side or the other, we don't chose which candidate would best represent the brand, because snack food companies don't get to vote.  And while that may be a crying shame, I don't think that ANY of us would enjoy how Chester the Cheetah would cast its ballot (probably for Nader!).

But while Peeled Snacks is neither a registered Republican, nor Democrat, nor part of Obama's "Chicago Terrorist Party", nor part of McCain's "Crotchety Old Man Party" (sorry, I've been watching a LOT of Saturday Night Live lately), Peeled Snacks DOES, in fact, have some political leanings, and therefore has a keen interest in how this election turns.

Obviously, Peeled Snacks isn't too interested in the Culture War, and the War in Iraq isn't high on our list of priorities.  We're mostly interested in Agriculture and the Economy, and if the latter hasn't been on too many pundits' lips, the latter most certainly has.   I've written now and again about Peeled Snacks' interest in Agriculture, but not too much about the economy.  Here are 3 main points that have to do with both of these major issues that will basically show you where we stand....

#1: The price of oil HAS to come down: Okay, alternative energy sources are great, but they're years if not decades away.  The price of oil his EVERY aspect of the economy, and as our bags are made of oil, our peaches get shipped by it, and our finishes snacks get delivered by it.  The president that Peeled Snacks will vote for will have a plan to lower the cost of oil.  And sorry, Ethanol production is a Red Herring.

#2: Inflation must be halted: Okay, without money, people can't buy our snacks.  The last 4 years have been a period of inflation for the 2 major categories not covered by the Fed when it tracks inflation, namely in the cost of oil and food.  But if prices there have gone up, the price of housing has just run amok.  There cannot be solid increase in housing values unless there's either greatly increased productivity (which there wasn't), or there's inflation (which there was).  The candidate that Peeled Snacks will vote for will recognize the danger of inflation and have a plan to deal with it.  And sorry, the government's bailout is only making it worse.

#3: Global Climate Change must be addressed: Okay, if this isn't dealt with, then everybody dies, and then nobody can buy Peeled Snacks.  The candidate that Peeled Snacks will vote for will have a plan to focus the government on finding the cause and ways to deal with Global Climate Change.  And sorry, this issue is truly too important to put off till after the banking nonsense gets solved.

So all of you that are reading this, if you haven't voted, I hope that you'll take these points with you to the voting booth and vote as Peeled Snacks does, because a vote like Peeled Snacks is a vote that's, like, for the future.  And here, on Election  Day, Peeled Snacks would like to officially endorse Ralph Nader for president.

Or not.  Vote Wisely.  Or don't vote wisely.  Whatever.  Just VOTE!

-Peeled Skinny, off to the voting booth....