Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Why I Wear My "I Voted" Sticker With Pride.
In the midst of a season of clashing agendas and unsavory mudslinging, I took time yesterday to reflect upon how fortunate I feel to live in a nation where my voice and its echoes can be heard. Forget for a moment the corruption, the numbers, the animosity. Instead, focus on the priceless gift of representation our forefathers bestowed upon us. We must never squander this favor; too many voices across the globe fall upon deaf ears. Whether ardently defending current policies or desperately seeking a new bearing, it is our responsibility as Americans to shout out, through cast ballots, our ambitions and aspirations. Like every election day, yesterday provided confirmation that the process, however ugly at times, is necessary and just. From a young local candidate warmly greeting voters on a gloomy day to a faithful statesman's dignified concession, yesterday renewed my faith that America, despite her foibles and missteps, will remain a shining beacon of promise.
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16 comments:
I see your optimistic approach and I'll raise you a dose of reality. Only 40% voter turn out. That is America for you. Don't get me wrong. America is and always will be the best. I love this country and I voted. That being said, 40% turn out is an outrage. Many brave men died for this country so the people may have a say. 60% of the people dont care. That is the reality. America's enemies see it as a sign of weekness. They see it not that Americans are divided. The see it that Americans do not care. Our enemies are strengthened. 40% voter turn out. Think of what message that sends the world about our democracy, our patriotism, and our will to stand up for ourselves.
I agree that voter apathy is unfortunate. I also wish more people would take advantage of their right to vote. I firmly believe that if you didn't vote Tuesday you don't get to bitch on Wednesday. In this post,however, I was talking about my personal experience and feelings.
if in your heart you don't feel either candidate for an office has earned your vote, you have a right to not vote and still complain...the big problem is this two party garbage...get rid of it. stand for what you believe in regardless of some stupid party affiliation. our government shouldn't be about which party can "rule" congress, it should be about which people can be trusted to govern us according to popular vote!
I understand the protest no-vote; I've left certain races blank before for lack of a good candidate. But there were at least 8 races on our ballot. A person that doesn't vote because of your reasoning can't find any candidates in any race that he likes? Besides I think most folks who use that excuse(and I know you voted, so you aren't one) are using it as a copout.
And lets not forget about the people who aren't informed or intelligent enough to be voting. Is an uninformed vote better than no vote? I say not. If you have no idea what you're doing then let those of us who might make the decisions for you.
In this day and age it's tough go out and vote, often all you've got to choose from is the lesser of two evils.
I didn't vote.
The two major parties only differ on things that infuriate/defend their respective power bases; embryonic stem cell research, gay marriage, anti-choice/pro-abortion, death penalty...
This year you could throw Warmongering in that mix, but the truth is that congress can't dictate military strategy or tactics; they can only declare war. And let's not forget that everyone "voted FOR the war, before I voted AGAINST it", in the words of noted humorist John Kerry... All the "plans for Iraq" that the politicians have been waving around have about as much authority as a strongly worded op-ed piece.
On matters of taking the personal liberties and resources of the citizenry and distributing it as they see fit (and their special interests/lobbyists/cronies advise them), the Republocrats walk in lock step.
And when my libertarian candidate was a sham, I didn't feel that it was my responsibility to pick the lesser of three evils... I didn't vote, and I reserve the right to bitch about politics as much as I want.
possibly. and yes this year we certainly had a lot of choices to make. by the way did you see the worcester county race? oglesby and todd were separated by ONE VOTE!! still counting absentee ballots...talk about your vote not counting!!!
Alright, so I'll admit that the "don't vote, don't bitch" statement is an oversimplification. With you guys that have commented, obviously, I respect your views because you stay informed and examine the issues closely and intelligently. Maybe I should have said (and this covers my brother's statement too)that I wish more people would involve themselves in whole process. People should educate themselves about the candidates and their stances. I wish we had more educated voters (or protest non-voters.), because I still believe that some (certainly not all) people I've talked to use the "well, there's nobody good anyway" excuse as a copout to not stay informed.
I agree with Wolske's points too. Some of the "issues" that pop up at this time of year are ludacris. We have two wars going on and a country that can't seem to even help it's own...Katrina. In light of that, gay marriage and stem cell research is just knitpicking isn't it?
I also feel some what compelled to vote to honor the values that our forefathers have fought and died for, but is it this? Would those same forefathers want me to give my life in the name of big business, dirty money, bigoted religions, and officials that are of an entirely differnt caste than the people they serve?
I agree wit Kevin too, do you really want the Kevin Fedderlines of America voting?
Another thing that bothers me is singal party voting, just seing the whole picure as D's and R's...thats how half of the ass-wipes in Washington get there and stay there.
I will agree with some. The 2 party thing has to go. Fresh ideas are needed. But to disagree, as a member of the military and among the first units deployed to Katrina, the fed gov was not informed to the scale of damage. Therefore, by law, no fed action could be taken until the Gov.'s of LA and MS requested it. Once there on the ground, aid was given. Once the call went out for help, the fed. gov. went into action. So do not say that nothing was done. It was delayed due to the states not asking for help. It was a case of Dems vs. GOP.
As far as the founding fathers. People shouldn't believe that coruption is a new thing. It has been in all governments throughout history. This war that we are fighting is going to be a long one. It has nothing to due with oil, business, or anything else you want to throw out there. If it was about oil, don't you think gas prices would be lower? It is about fighting it there or here. I would rather fight it there. Yes, things have been done wrong. Think about this, when both sides come up with the perfect plan, something has to give.
I don't think the criticisms about government are confined to the feds, which in the Katrina discussion leaves room for the states to be at fault as well. That said, to let the federal govt off the hook goes a bit too far. As for the feds not being informed, are they incapable of turning on CNN? Oh that's right, the republicans don't watch CNN. And I think we all saw enough inaction to believe they could have done more.
And I definitely believe the war is at least related to oil. Even if it's only to prevent the vast oil fields from being controlled by the terrorists. The bottom line is that reasoning given for the war continues to change. It's morphed from WMD to spreadin democracy to stopping terrorism. And no, I wouldn't expect gas prices to be cheaper, not when we're not winning the war. Why should they be when Iraq is producing much less oil than it did before the war and when there is so much instability in the markets?
And assuming, just for a second, that it was strictly about terrorism, are we really to believe that us fighting in Iraq is occupying all of Al Qaeda so that they can't strike here?
First off, I'm not 100% in love with your tone right now. I too am a little passionate about Katrina, I have family who lost EVERYTHING to that storm. In regards to the feds response, the arguement that they didn't know is BS. Anyone with a TV and a cable subscription knew how bad it was hours after it had happened. It was then, that the federal government should have been putting together a plan of action, not days later when asked to help. Also you've put words in my mouth by saying that I said nothing was done, I said that it seemed that we couldn't help our own. There are people who are still waiting for help. The amount of red tape there is to cut through is stupifying and the amount of money that seems to have...evaporated is scary. Not to mention that it seems that insurance companies appear to be allowed to make the rules up regarding disasters as they go along. I think it's strange that the Gov. didn't see a disaster when the rest of the world did...but who's an expert?
Also, in mentioning the possible wills of my ancestors, I didn't bring up the war in Iraq or oil prices as you've assumed. I based that argument on the corruption of our government. Is it naive of me to wonder wether or not my long-gone grandfathers would want what we've got now? Now when most elected officials are so out of touch with whats really on their constituents minds. When many worry more about special intrest funding to their campaigns than meeting with real people. Granted, I do not say all but, this is a concern regarding many officials. Their mouths are where the money is and by that I mean they talk where it pays.
On Iraq, I was there in the begining, right on the bandwagon. I felt that it was, at the time, the right thing to do. Obviously, I feel, it was wrong. Someday maybe that situation will be fixed. I have never said, nor believed that the war in Iraq was based on oil, bussiness, or anything else. There or here...Iraq wasn't bringing anything here, theres no evidence that they planned to. Did they hate us? I'm sure Sadam did and does and will until his feet stop swinging.
I understand the feelings about Katrina. I do. I was there. Yes, the fed put together a plan. They saw everything unfold just like we did. The Pres. ask if the states needed aid. The states said no. Days later it became obvious that the states were wrong.
The war in Iraq was about lots of things. Everything was spelled out. Many different reasons. The press took the WMD thing and ran with it. So thats all you heard. WMD, WMD, WMD.
In regards to winning. News flash. We won the war in Iraq. It was the quickest defeat in history. Now, the rebuilding is a mess. But when you consider it took 10 years to keep the peace in Japan and Germany without a hostile state stirring the pot, it puts things in a new perspective. Hostile state? Yes, Iran.
What would our grandfathers have done? They would not have played this PC BS game and would have blackened the skies of the middle east. In WWII no one cared that things got destroyed. It was about winning at all cost. Now, we are to touchy feely. We worry about peoples feelings. How would they feel if we blew up this or blew up that? Who cares? They dropped their gloves first.
I say this with no sarcasm whatsoever-the response to this post is what I love about our blogs. I was rightfully smacked around by Wolske, Killer, Roberto and Kevin for my simplistic "don't vote, don't bitch" sentiment. However, I never thought my short post would morph into a discussion like it has. Good stuff. I think it illustrates the deep gulf that exists between people relating to foreign policy, war, this administration, etc. Glad we have a place to express.
As far as the reasons for the war in Iraq-they have shifted repeatedly as the administration has continually tried to justify its actions. Regarding who dropped the gloves first-I probably would have been okay with "blackening the skies" over the mountains of Afghanistan where the original glove dropper was/is. Being in Iraq is a far tougher case to make.
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