“You
have your way. I have my way.
As for the right way, the correct way, and the
only way,
it does not exist”
Friedrich
Nietzsche
This
is one of my favorite quotes, if not my favorite. I thought it was appropriate
for today. Election Day.
I
voted as you can see. I have my sticker. I feel patriotic and all. I've done my civic duty!
I
vote at the little grade school (that’s not so little anymore) one block from
my house and it’s where my kids went to school. It used to be a madhouse on Election
Day. Kids were in attendance. People walked in and out of the school at will. Canvassers
(or whatever they’re called) standing out front handing out flyers and exit surveyors inquiring for whom we voted. There seemed
more pomp and circumstance involved back in the day.
These
days, security is tight. There’s no access to the school unless you’re on
official business with your student, a teacher or the PTA. I liked it the old
way better but I understand.
I
live in a small community and, this year, it was quiet as could be. Everyone’s mood seemed chipper. Of course, I ran into five people I knew on my way in
and five more on the way out. It took 30 minutes door-to-door to
navigate the process but I was glad to see everyone out and about on this sunny
day.
Our polling place is a mecca for the elderly here because they serve coffee. Toddlers ran around the gym licking suckers as their mom’s voted. Dogs were tied up to trees outside the school doors.
While I knew everyone on the ballot because they are all long serving politicians in our area, the only one I actually "know" is the guy who will be our State's Attorney because he lives in our little village, on the street where I used to live. Otherwise, besides the President, everything around here stays status quo as most are running unopposed.
Truthfully, this
is how I really feel today.
I
will most probably stay up until the President is determined. It sort of chaps
me that it’s all in the hands of the Electoral College and that my vote doesn’t
“really” count but so be it. My hubby will stay up.
I’ll
read my book with one ear open.
I’ll
be happy when the sunrises tomorrow and the phone stops ringing non-stop and we
all begin moving forward.
The song below is not included here as any sort of political statement or indication of my support one way or another even though I just saw for whom Kid Rock endorsed when I embedded this video. It has nothing to do with that.
Rock your vote!!!
Your vote counts. We tell the electoral college and our reps what to do. Sure, they can go against our wishes but that doesn't happen as often as it could.
ReplyDeleteWhen we vote and make our voices heard it sends a message that we are paying attention and we are important.
You might like this:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/11/why-vote-the-marketing-dynamics-of-apathy.html
I know, in theory and in practice, this is true. Just sometimes it doesn't always feel that way. However, I would never NOT vote! That said, Illinois is kind of screwballish! I will check out the blog, for sure!
DeleteI care about my local races much more than the national one because they are always a hot bed of controversy.
ReplyDeleteThe local stuff is where I read the fine print and come in prepared to vote properly. We generally have many village or county referendums but not this time. It was incumbents and uncontested candidates. And the Presidential race, of course.
DeleteWho sits in the Oval Office / lives in the White House affects our lives, but not as quickly and directly as our local elected officials.
ReplyDeleteVoting matters - especially at the local level. IMHO
I agree. I will also add that our state legislation affects us more immediately as well. It happened to be a year where the name of the game was status quo. No referendums at the local level. No unexpected candidates on our ballots.
DeleteVoting always matters, IMO, too!!!