“I’m Not Even Going to Bother”
While many folks are busy describing this election as a transformational moment in how we approach elections, I ran into a situation this morning which reminds me that some things never seem to change at all. I was out taking my old hound dog for an early morning walk around the block when I passed one of my neighbors, a woman who lives down the street. In our usual way of finding some sort of small talk in passing, I asked her, “So… you and Roger heading down to vote this morning?”
I should note that she and her husband are lifelong, straight ticket Republican voters here in the mostly Blue state of New York. Her response was a bit jarring. “Naw. Not even going to bother.” I paused and asked her why. “There’s no Republicans getting in office this year. That clown is going to be president either way.”
I plead guilty to not spending the time to try to change her mind, but it certainly got me to thinking. I suppose it’s easy to be depressed when you don’t live in a “swing state” and it looks like your vote doesn’t count for anything. But the truth is, your vote always counts because we live in a nation where we look at more than the winners and losers. We look at the numbers and analyze their meaning. We take away trends and messages. How would you not want to vote? Even if you think your candidate will not prevail, would you not want to drive up their score as high as possible, if only to send a message to the winner which says, “Look at us. We’re still out here in the nation you are preparing to govern and we do not approve of this message.” If you feel your candidate is going to win, would you not want to run up their margin as high as possible to give them a greater mandate to rule and further validate their victory?
This will likely turn out to be the most historic election in our lifetimes in more ways than one. Why would you even consider sitting on the sidelines? A record number of people by a healthy margin are on track to go vote today. They will collectively decide the future course of the nation. Will you let them make that decision for you without so much as lifting a finger to express your own choice? We shall once again get the government we deserve. If you don’t vote, you deserve a government that doesn’t represent your views.
For the record, we went down very early this morning and voted. In our sleepy little village, my wife and I are generally the only ones in there except for the volunteers. We only get one voting machine in our precinct. This morning there was an honest to goodness line out the door when we left. I am encouraged.
11 Responses to ““I’m Not Even Going to Bother””
Jazz-
Too many people have lost that sense of civic responsibility. “My vote doesn't count” is such a cop-out. In truth, one vote has almost never counted, because almost no race is ever decided by just one vote, and even on the rare occasion when it is, then that vote is assuredly within the margin of error.
But EVERYONE'S vote counts. That is the true beauty of Democracy. It is the combined will of the people who do remember what the whole point of elections are – the right of the people to chose who will govern them (even if we are not always thrilled with the choices presented). The radical experiment of our Founding Fathers is still going strong, despite the partisanship, the flaws, the corruption, the disagreements. the apathy of too many citizens, the short-term problems, etc., and while the world's view of us waxes and wanes based on individual administrations and current events, there are always still WAY more people willing to risk everything for a chance to come to America than there are people fleeing the US.
We are still a great country by any measurement. Too often we let some current problem or scandal get twisted into “the end of America as we know it”, whether “stagflation” in the 70's, the market crash and Japanese financial dominance of the 80's, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Balkan War and the continued AIDS crisis in the 90's, or 9/11, $4+ gas (that was short lived, despite the sturm und drang that dominated the press earlier this year), and the current financial crisis of the 00's. We pick ourselves up as a country, and those in private and public sectors with the dedication, vision, leadership and hard work ethic eventually lead us to yet another chapter of fortune and success.
I believe this to the core of my beliefs. That is why I never give up hope, and never buy into the “American Dream is Over” meme.
To everyone who voted, and to all the people on this board that have contributed to both the civil and not-so-civil discourses, I want to say it is great to know there is still such passion about our country and our politics. I would much rather hang out here with all of you, even if I feel like the odd man out much of the time, than to be around spiritless and indifferent people who believe “my vote doesn't count”.
To those who have not voted – GO VOTE NOW!
Jazz, great post and thanks for voting!
AR: I love your comments/observations and all I can say is, “Ditto.” Thanks.
STOCKBOYSF IS A DITTOHEAD!
HA HA HA HA!
Isn't this the future of American. I voted today and everyone knows what the results will be and none of the races were the least bit close. A moderate Repubicans is being replaced by a liberal Democrats as my Congressman and the new guy will hold the office as long as he wants to and does not run for the Senate.
As more states become deep blue states, more people will feel cut off from the political process. Image what is going to happen in 2016 when the successor for Obama is going to be decided in the Democratic primaries sometime between the Iowa Caucuses and the Super Tuesday vote.
In the future, no offices will have one meaningul election each decade. Instead of trying to make DC a state without amending the constitution or instead of trying get rid of the electorial college, maybe progressives should concentrate on making more elections meaningful instead of making 95% of them rubber stamps.
SD – it must suck to be you. I really feel sorry for you.
Austinroth,
You may want to look up how politics worked in Texas before Bill Clements won the governor;s race. The Democratic primary was the real election and there was very little turnover. What made change in DC very difficult was that the Southern Democrats keep electing the same people for decades. That is what the U.S. is headed back to.
Trends come, trends go. Some last longer than others. But in the end, nothing lasts forever, good or bad. You seem to feel that current trends will last forever. I say no more than until the next full election, and maybe not even until the next interim elections. Actually, that is the historical trend of late whenever one party gains compete control of Congress and the Executive – the next mid-terms take away at least one body of Congress.
You can wallow in your pity-pool all you want, though, as that is your right. As for me, I will continue looking and working towards the future, but without your black cloud hanging over my head.
AR,
I have also seen the analysis of the Senate elections in 2010. It will mark the third consecutive election where no Democratic incumbent is in risk. Unless the Republicans pull off the greatest comeback in the U.S. house in 2010, the Democrats will probably be expanding their majorities in Congress. And then after redistricting in 2010, the Republicans will be luck to have 100 seats in Congress.
There is no self pity just a look at the demographic and election data trends. The Repulbicans reached their high water mark in 2000 and will continue to decline. Do you really think that the Repulbicans will be able to pander to Hispanics and Asians while being the minority party.
AR: LOL!
“f you feel your candidate is going to win, would you not want to run up their margin as high as possible to give them a greater mandate to rule and further validate their victory?”
Actually no I wouldn't. I would like my vote counted and weighted properly, not used for post game stat jockeying. The fact you think that somehow makes up for what amounts to voter disenfranchisement shows me how screwed up the system is. Especially in light of the 2000 election, where in a nation of 300,000,000 we came down to one county where strong arm tactics allowed an election to possibly be stolen, or not, we will never know for sure, I consider it nothing less. Fortunately I live in a state whose entire vote will be going with the candidate I back, but I don't think that makes the system any less stupid. So yea, I think your neighbors time was better spent taking out the trash, or whatever it was she was doing at the time, than heading down to vote if her state is not in play.