I admit, that title doesn't seem to make sense, but hear me out. Like many Americans, I am displeased with both alternatives in the presidential election (and in my local congressional race too). However, I'm not going to let my disappointment in the candidates keep me from voting.
Here's why: For most of human history, almost no one had a say in their own government. On Election Day, I think we need to remember that it's the vote that gives us a choice in the form and person of the leadership that governs us. Today, in the United States of America, because we have the right to vote, we ordinary folks have retained a good number of rights as well.
Some people question whether their votes will be counted, and that's a fair skepticism, but a vote is much more than just a literal act of contributing one more mark in a huge tally for a particular leader. A vote is also a statement of support for the very right to vote. It's a declaration that voting matters to us, that we still believe in the ideals of democratic government.
It's okay to conclude that none of the candidates in particular campaign for public office are worth voting for, but I don't think that it's okay to not show up to vote. If you can't bring yourself to support any of the candidates, please still show up to vote.
Enter the voting booth, pull no levers and make no mark. Leave the ballot blank, if you feel that you most, but please, still show up to vote. Make a statement in support of democracy, even if you approve of none of the choices that this year's democratic process has presented you.
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Comments: 3
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Wednesday, October 29, 2008
‘E’ Minus 6 Days — Loose Ends
Today’s Thoughtful Reminder:
DEALING WITH REDS
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Never again, voters.
Remember.
Never again.
Never!
N-E-V-E-R.
We've decided we're leaving.
We intend to form our own country,
and we're taking the other Blue States with us.
In case you aren't aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.
To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals.
With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.
With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.
Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.
Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico
Peace out,
Blue States
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This is a great article. I think that too many people take for granted our right to vote. It doesn't take too much effort to show up at the voting booth.