Warning: the following is political in nature and should not be read by anyone.
During last election, the Democrats were successful because the Republicans are/were acting like bunch of tools. This election, the talk and consensus appears to be that the Republicans will succeed because (survey says!) the Democrats are now acting like a bunch of tools.
With hundreds, if not thousands, of people voting tomorrow – and yes I’m being facetious – I don’t see a lot changing. If anything, we’ll just begin a new cycle of who takes the brunt of the blame.
Personally, my ballot has already been mailed in and my votes for four Democrats and three Republicans have been counted. I abstained from many other races because I simply wasn’t confident enough to give any person or party my, uhh, hanging chad (i.e. vote.)
Just prior to filling out my ballot, I spent perhaps an hour or so reading up on what the races were about and what the candidates stood for. I’d like to believe that I was able to ignore the lies and half-truths from the countless :30 political ads viewed on a daily basis. However, I have to admit it’s very difficult not to be swayed by all the negative commercials that were aired in the past few months (which is really just a sad commentary on our election process.)
In the end, I didn’t take the easy – or better yet: lazy – way out. I felt those people were the best choice and only they got my vote.
Election Day Solutions
Did you know that some people actually believe that we, the United States, invented democracy? (I know, it’s a head-scratcher right?.) I think that’s probably the first place we should start: voter education.
I also think any future solutions should include ending the two-party system. There is a lot more overlap among the two main political parties than most people think. Besides, people in this country don’t think in black-or-white. All opinions don’t fall into a clear-cut “liberal” or “conservative” bucket. What people believe when it comes to the so-called political hot-topics vary widely and there simply isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution in government.
In many ways this might go against point one above, but wouldn’t it be nice if there was a large voter turnout? I mean, if we’re supposed to vote – let’s all vote. It seems foolish that we continually have a relatively small percentage of eligible voters make such important election-day decisions for the majority of people.
Finally, if a candidate doesn’t approve a message, it doesn’t get aired. Perhaps that will help weed out the eh-holes and let those with at least a sense of moral decency rise to the top.
So again, consider voting for the right person; not the against a particular party. Vote for who will do a better job representing you; not for the candidate who doesn’t suck as bad.
Bottom line: don’t vote straight party and walk away thinking you did the good thing. Educate yourselves and make a difference.
(And for Pete’s sake, let’s all agree to celebrate the end of negative commercials. Our collective intelligence can’t handle any more “John Smith voted FOR putting seniors in poverty.” or “Mary Jones supports keeping Americans unemployed.” If I hear one more of those spots, I might very well be forced to stab myself in the ear with sharpened pencil.)
I hear ya!!! I will vote for the first candidate who puts up a law that changes campaign procedures. Pretty much sick of most of it. Hope now something in congress can get done besides voting to eliminate Obama Care which won’t happen. Maybe they can begin to fix Obama Care and the rest of the country and not take four days every week to fly home to campaing for next election. Uncle Jimbo (alias Will Rogers, mark Twain, Steven colbert)