Your Voting Voice

Americans have an odd relationship with politics. Some are obsessed with it, vocal champions of their side who give passionate sermons on the issues of the day. They never pass up an opportunity to debate, loudly, because it just isn't fun without a fight. Others are apathetic or so disgusted by the ceaseless bickering that they would prefer to avoid the subject altogether. Before and after every election, we hear news stories about how Americans just don't care to vote.

And who can blame them after being subjected to months of mud slinging, negative ads, telephone polls, and a ton and a half of junk mail from both sides (each declaring their opponent to be just short of a baby eating monster?) Who can blame them when elected officials are exposed as scoundrels on a regular basis? How is a person supposed to choose in a maelstrom of misinformation, hyperbole, and rampant insincerity? All of that works to the advantage of many political candidates. What remains of the voters after this winnowing of the disgusted and disillusioned are mostly of two types. There are the ones who have been whipped up and told how to vote by the pre-election manipulation, and there are the ones who are so irritated by that manipulation that they researched as much as possible and prepared to vote for candidates and issues that most closely matched their views. Those in the latter category are determined to conquer the bullshit by voting the facts, but unfortunately, theirs is the smaller of the two groups.

I usually don't use this blog as a political forum. Though I have my leanings, I try to keep free of associating with any one candidate or party, preferring to make whatever choice is right for me based on my observations. It's certainly not my place to assume my choice is best for someone else.

Still, I feel it's important to urge you to vote, this election and others as well. I'd like to urge you to become part of that second group of voters because although you may be dissatisfied with the whole process, refusing to vote is like handing the whole thing over to the candidate with the most manipulative advertising campaign. It can be difficult sometimes to determine the real facts from a neutral source, but they're usually out there if you try digging a bit. There's even something to be learned from the partisan sources. The important thing is to listen to how things are said and to question what you hear. Check their "facts" and see how the candidate is repackaging them. Every election campaign is like a job interview, and you're the boss. A candidate who conducts himself poorly and spends his entire interview stretching the truth and running down other candidates does not deserve to be hired.

Lastly, consider this:

You may not agree with every choice your elected officials make, but they should be making them with a sincere concern for the well-being of the people. The true purpose of government is to serve not to lead.