From Carrie:
Why did I vote today?
Because I can. There was a time in this country when I would not have been allowed to vote. A time when I would have had to sit at home and wait to hear what the men decided. There are many countries today that do not allow their women to vote, speak, or be seen in public.
Regardless of the noise associated with the election. Regardless of how broken the political system has become in America. I have a voice. I am an intelligent woman. I choose to participate because no one can tell me whether or not my vote matters. It matters because it matter to me.
I voted today and it felt great!
That’s good stuff.
I think most people fall right into that category – they vote because it feels good and they feel like they’re doing their part and making a difference in the world around them.
We can debate all day about whether or not it’s true, but we can’t debate that feeling.
It’s entirely valid.
I can’t shake the feeling that it doesn’t seem to matter if I vote. I feel fine with it. I feel good knowing I didn’t go fight the crowds to play into the machine like a good little rat collecting my cheese. I’ll feel good about voting when there’s something to feel good about voting for. I have in the past and will in the future.
We can debate all day about whether or not there’s truth in that too, but we can’t debate that feeling.
And to elaborate as to why I don’t feel good about it:
McCain will essentially hold the rudder steady…and I’m ok with that. But that gets us nowhere except where we’re headed. And that’s not necessarily a place we need to visit.
Obama seems to want to randomly spin the wheel for the sake of spinning it. If we’re going nowhere fast, then spin the wheel and see where we end up. Change for the sake of change. And that’s even sillier than holding steady.
I can’t and won’t be responsible for supporting either of them…and it feels good knowing I can throw a big middle finger to the system and still complain on this very blog tomorrow when you guys pick another in a long line of losers. ;)
Well, I’ve said it before and I still believe it to be true. Not choosing is still choosing. Your decision to abstain until there is a candidate worth voting for, is still participating in the process.
What you have refused to do, is make a selection for the sake of making a selection. But in my opinion, my friend, you still voted. :)
EDIT: What you have refused to do is make a selection for the sake of making a selection, which I totally respect. But in my opinion, my friend, you still voted. :)
You’re right.
But for some reason I’m expected to do my civic duty and play along with the charade.
You want real change? You want the real maverick?
You’re looking at him. :)
Well, yeah, that’s why I wrote you in on my ballot today. ;)
I appreciate your support. :)