I'm peeking out of the bushes [for a bit] to post about something I feel passionate about.
If you are a registered voter, I ask that you consider going to the polls Tuesday (for our foreign friends, our national elections are always the first Tuesday of November).
I have many, many friends who gripe about the condition of our country and our world. When I ask them if they voted recently, they snort, "What's the point, it's all corrupt!"
So in other words, no.
And then, my respect for them always takes a temporary dip. I ask them not to complain about "things" (to me) if that's the case. I am a strong believer that if you complain about the way things are, but don't take the time to stand in line for 5 minutes (or 2 hours) to vote, then you have no excuse....wait, you have no RIGHT to complain about the way things stand.
As an immigrant to this country, I think often about that right, every two years, to make a statement of how things are going. I'm amazed, astonished, and giddy that I have right to make a statement in private and yet it all feeds into information that may or may not give a wakeup call to those far, far away. I always seem to "skip" out of the polling place after I'm done.
Ironically, I'm always voting for the loser.
In presidential elections I'm 2-for-7. And often, the guy I vote for in the primary comes in 3rd or 4th. (as a lesson to all politicians - don't ask for my endorsement)
But yet, I look forward to the first Tuesday in November because the sliding of the (filled out) ballot into that metal box gives me the right 6 months later to stand up and complain that so-and-so is an outright crook, liar, and/or cheat.
At least I tried voting them out.
Are you voting, or cutting and running?
Are you voting with us, or are you voting against us?
If you don't vote, then THEY win.
Sigh.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
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23 comments:
I couldn't agree more. I vote so I can complain....and that whole 'I want my voice to be heard' thing, too. (Unfortunately, my voice is usually drowned out, as well.)
I agree with you totally. My husband is in the military, and we are over is Japan. If I can vote all the way over here, I dont see why anyone back home has an excuse not to. Get up and make an effort, or shut your mouth.
We voted "early" last week.
Damn straight! For me, one of the most exciting things about turning 18 was that I could finally vote. It's something I don't take lightly and I've never understood how anyone else can.
My voice is usually drowned out too, but I'm not giving up!
I'm voting. I always do!
Hear, hear. Even if your candidate or issue loses, if enough people vote the other way, the politicos have to at least pay some attention.
It's not only a right, it's a duty.
We're new expats (just moved to Israel at the end of September) and so we voted a few weeks ago. We only get to vote for our congressman in our former home state, but of course we did it. I don't understand people who don't vote either.
I agree with you, in principle. I actually get teary EVERY TIME when I leave my polling place after voting. I always vote.
But I've been grappling lately with the whole question of someone who refuses to vote on moral grounds (a well-articulated sense of disenfranchisement, for instance). I have a colleague who teaches Ethics at the college, who abstains from voting. He is very thoughtful about why he won't participate in the current system, and--as a former lawyer of ethics--very well-informed. He's exactly the kind of person you want voting in this country, but I respect his right not to, and I've begun to wonder whether there isn't a place for the "conscientious objector" on election day...that he fills a role that's necessary and important and that I wouldn't want to see disappear.
I'm with you there...not voting makes me so mad. I'm always on my college students at church about voting...the need to do it. I, like you, am a blue stater living in a red state, so I almost always loose, too...but I still do it. We never have a chance if we don't even vote. Thanks for the reminder!
Uh...clarification: I don't want to assume you're a "blue stater living in a red state," but I live in your state, and I always loose, too...so I think I know how you lean. But I don't want to make assumptions...sorry.
Voting ballot in hand & looking forward to tomorrow.
Yes, yes, yes! There is TOO MUCH AT STAKE not to participate... way too much.
Im voting....
Amen brother. It is my firts time voting in this country (new citizen) and the feeling of powers is incredible. I had that power taken from me too many times in my country of birth, so I really value it. And I have a hard time understanding those who don't. In my state, we can vote by mail, it couldn't be any easier. You can even call to verify that they received your vote.
Voting so I can complain.
At least my congressman actually wins.
blue in a red.
It's a lost cause but I'm voting too. I just can't stand it that people stay home just because they think their vote can't matter. Actually, if those people VOTED, it wouldn't be a lost cause!
I'm fearful of what the future holds for our country now. I'm fearful for my two small children. I hope we can someday undo the damage but I'm pretty sure they'll inherit the mess. At least I voted and tried to make a difference.
Donna
You go Johnny!! We have a pretty good percentage of people who vote here in Canada; I am guessing but I think it was at least 60% in our last federal election. Is is our right and we take it very seriously. It is always amazing to us that Americans don't go out to the polls when they have the freedom to choose.
Thanks for this post. I often complain, but I never fail to vote. I early voted this year and it was so special because I brought my daughter with me. In 17 years, it will be her turn. I always want her to value the fact that we can vote. We can have opinions.
On another note, I am also from your state. My vote typically means nothing, but I vote anyway. If I didn't, I would be just handing them the job. There's no way I am doing that!
Amen to that!
Anxiously awaiting the poll results to see if my vote helped switch our state over to the good side again..
Great reminder - every vote truly does make a different, trite but true.
Thanks for visiting our blog (Journey To Kavanna). Nice to know who our lurkers... er, readers, are!
Even though my husband and I cancel each other's votes out, we both still vote in every election (and no, we don't discuss politics in our home!).
We voted! Yay. Light at the end of the tunnel. Now let's take back our country.
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