My very smart (and seemingly tech-savvy) writer friend Jen Singer, creator of MommaSaid.net, has produced a fun video that answer the question, “What if moms ran the country?” Check it out here:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQ8T9n7fLE&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1]

After annoying so many readers with my last election-related post, I promise to keep today’s election-related post to non-partisan business. Specifically, I’m going to offer you ways you can green your Election Day. It’s important to think about ways you can reduce, reuse, recycle and green your election day, especially since most municipalities expect that you’ll remove campaign signs from lawns, roadways and byways within 10 to 30 days after the election is over. That said, here are three tips to consider:

1. Walk or carpool to vote.
I know that gas prices have fallen of late, but I still think it’s important to minimize your gas consumption. Because even though it costs less to fill your gas tank these days, your car still spews emissions when you drive it–especially around-town driving. This stopping and starting is what pollutes the air the most. Since you usually vote locally, you can reduce your voting carbon footprint by either walking polls or carpooling to the polls with someone you know. (Still not sure where you should go to vote? Check out the Vote411 website.)

2. Recycle campaign literature.
If your mailbox has been looking like mine, it’s been stuffed full with campaign literature from both parties. These days direct-mail pieces related to the upcoming election are running about 4 to 1 to any regular mail I usually receive. Make sure that your put these fliers in your recycling bin or into your shredder. Remember, you can use shredded paper as compost, which may be the most direct way to recycle something back to Mother Earth.

3. Recycle or reuse campaign signs.
According to my research the thin, sleeve-like plastic lawn campaign signs are made from #5 plastic, the same plastic used to make prescription bottles. As we know from an earlier post on recycling prescription bottles, not all recyclers take #5 plastic. If you’re lucky enough to have a trash hauler/recycler that takes #1 through #7 plastic, then you can put your sign in with the rest of your plastic recyclables. Or you can see if there is a company locally that is recycling campaign signs, like one Florida company is. Another company in Arizona is also taking election signs for recycling.

Another kind of campaign sign is recyclable as well. It is the corrugated plastic sign that is sturdy and not malleable. Many are made from recycled plastic as it is, and the more commonly accepted plastic–#2 HDPE, the same kind of plastic as milk jugs. So unless you’re going to start a campaign sign collection, you can go ahead and recycle this kind of sign as well.

Now the steel frame that holds the signs may prove more challenging to recycle. Why not reuse it instead the next time you’re having a yard sale? Here is a way to create a DIY yard sale sign that reuses the frame.

While it’s important to think green before, during and after Election Day, what’s even more important for Americans in 2008 is making sure that you take the time to vote, regardless of which candidate you’ll be voting for. The media has predicted record voter turnout so don’t get discouraged if you see long lines. Take a book with your or your iPod so that you can stay somewhat entertained while waiting in line, but don’t give up. Eventually you’ll make your way to the voting booth and be able to cast your vote.