One of the reasons I haven’t been writing as much on this blog over the past few weeks/months is that I’ve been following another topic that’s long been a part of my life: Politics. I grew up in a political family, but I don’t write much about politics here. That’s in large part because I’m of the impression that people may agree on anti-doping goals (in general, if not in the particulars), but they may be worlds apart on the political front.
So rather than bring that rather divisive topic into the discussions of doping and anti-doping policy here, I leave my ranting and raving on all things political for my poor wife and other members of my family. (OK, it’s not that bad … I think … but my wife did recently suggest that maybe I should start up another blog focusing on politics or current events. Not sure where I’d find the time to do that, too. But if I did, it would be worlds different — I hope — than the rest of the political blogosphere.)
Tonight, I’m making an exception to the “no writing about politics” rule. No, there’s not going to be an endorsement of one presidential candidate over the other. I’ll leave that to others. And I’ll leave it up to everyone to make up their own minds on the subject. My point, my philosophy of voting, if you will, is this:
Those who are registered to vote and who don’t take the opportunity to do so have no right to complain about the results. If you don’t participate, you’ve got no reason to bitch, piss and moan about who wins and what the winner does, policy-wise.
This time around, the stakes are as high as any election I can remember. And I remember all of them, going back to 1964. (I’m a bit too young to remember the Kennedy/Nixon race, but I was around back then.) We live in scary economic times and scary political times. I see politicians playing with the kinds of forces that, once unleashed, cannot be controlled. I see our financial system teetering on the precipice, much like it did in 1929. I see events shaping up that bear an all-too-eerie resemblance to what happened in the aftermath of the stock market’s crash that year. And yet, I see that we also have the opportunity to intervene and prevent further economic and political carnage from occurring. We may even have the opportunity to set a whole new tone to the political debate in this country (I hope for the better).
You and I may disagree on the right measures to take to address our nation’s ills, but someone’s going to have to do it, and we all (those of us who are eligible, that is) get to have a say. Whoever wins the US presidential election tomorrow is going to have his hands full for the next four years.
Either way, the winner is going to be constrained by recent events and the financial and political fallout that comes from trying to keep the American business/financial/personal economy afloat. It ain’t gonna be easy. It’s going to require some sacrifices. But I’ll get into that another day, on another blog, if I decide to start writing more about politics and current events.
For those who are registered to vote: Get up early, stand in line, cast your ballot. Take time off of work, go over your lunch hour, or go on your way home from work. Just go and vote. (And when you’re done, go to Starbucks and tell them you voted. Supposedly, they’re giving away free cups of coffee to those who do.)
There are even a few states where you can register to vote on election day. Wisconsin, where I live, is one of them. What are my plans? I’m getting early so that I can cast my ballot before going to work.
It’s important to make your voice heard. Even if you’ve had a spotty record on the voting front in the past, this time around, make sure to get to the polls. This one may well be the most important election for years to come. No doubt, the country’s course into the future will be affected by the policies of our next president.
Regardless of what the polls have said up to now, the only one that counts is the one tomorrow. Don’t take it for granted that your candidate will win, and don’t take it for granted that the polls are correct, either. Whether people show up or not will make a huge difference in the result. Go. Vote.
Rant, well said!
Some advice.
Try to vote early. Lines may be long.
Make sure you verify the location where you’re supposed to vote. These locations change from time to time.
If you can’t get to your voting location, give a shout. There are dedicated volunteers in both Presidential campaigns who are ready and willing to give you a ride and any other assistance you might need. Post here if you need a ride, and I’ll make sure to give you a phone number you can call. If you don’t need assistance, see if you have a neighbor who might need help getting to vote.
Don’t be fooled by the typical “dirty tricks” that might be used to keep you from voting. No matter what you may have heard, you cannot vote by phone. You must vote on Tuesday (there are bogus official-looking letters saying that you can or must vote on Wednesday). Ignore any threats you might receive — you will not be charged money for unpaid parking tickets, you will not lose your college scholarship. You have an absolute right to vote. If your right to vote is challenged in any way, find a poll watcher to defend your right for you — both campaigns have lawyers out in the field who are organized to protect your rights.
There’s lots of new technology out there for voting, so be careful and make sure your vote has been properly registered.
I agree with Rant. I personally have strong feelings about the two candidates, but I feel even more strongly that everyone should make their voice heard.
Larry,
Good points, thanks for adding them. Like he said, don’t be fooled by any last-minute shenanigans. As long as you’re registered, you have a right to vote today.
I have been designated to hear any election disputes that arise in our county. Please don’t vote twice. Please don’t flatten the tires of the opposing party’s vehicles that are used to bring shut ins to the polls. Please vote using your own name, only. Please don’t offer cigarettes and booze to the homeless to vote for your candidate. These are documented election law violations that have occured in Wisconsin and nobody appreciates them.
Bill,
I hope you don’t have to hear any cases today. But if you do, I hope they’re few and far between.
Everyone,
If you have any legal questions related to the elections or casting your vote, one phone number you can call is:
(1-866-687-8683)
And the rest of the world has already made his own choice!
http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/results
Jean,
Later tonight or early tomorrow (depending on how the counting goes and the time zone you live in), we’ll know if our country has voted the way that folks around the world would like us to. Interesting times.
Everyone,
One more place to find information. If you don’t know where to vote, you can try the League of Women Voters web site.
Rant, prediction here is that the race will be called shortly after 11 p.m. east coast time. The Left Coast will be heard from! (briefly)
Larry,
That’s in line with what I’m expecting. I’m guessing about 11:30 p.m. Eastern/8:30 p.m. Pacific will be when the race gets called.
Maybe it’s time to make a recap:
you have the choice between
-a socialism who wants to redistribute your tax to poor people
– and liberalism who wants to redistribute your tax to Wall street!
Jean C, no fair campaigning! Besides, you ARE aware (aren’t you?) that your own President Sarkozy made a late “appearance” in our election? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/1/163922/235
Rant, when I say shortly after 11 p.m. east coast time, I mean 11:00 p.m. plus about 15 seconds.
Me and Mrs. Snake voted weeks ago, using our permanent absentee ballots from the comfort of our own hole.
Larry,
I knew that. 🙂 I’m thinking it will be a bit longer, depending on the turnout (so far, it appears to be pretty darn huge) and what happens in the states whose polls close before the West Coast do. Big turnout could lead to a longer wait — by about half an hour or so.
Snake,
My wife voted early, because she can get to our city hall, where our early voting takes place during routine business hours (she’s got a flexible work schedule and all). Me, my day job is too far from city hall to allow me to take advantage of the early voting, and their hours are pretty lame. No evening or weekend hours. Otherwise, I would have voted weeks ago, too.
Absentee ballots are the way to go. In fact, I think they’re referred to as “vote-by-mail ballots” nowdays.
They mail you your ballots about a month in advance. You fill it out, add your John Hancock and mail it back. If you wait too long to mail it, you can drop it off at any voting place on election day.
You can become a “permanent absentee” easy enough by just returning the request form that comes with your pre-election materials.
I am registered (here in Calif) as a permenant ‘Absentee’ voter…so I automaticly get every ballot mailed to my door a few weeks before the elections. SWEET!! (I travel a lot for my job, and wouldn’t be able to vote if it weren’t for this). Funny how things come full circle. I am retired Navy…and my entire military career was absentee ballot. When I FINALLY retired and had an actual home, I was all tingly and couldn’t WAIT to actually go TO the polling station and cast a vote IN PERSON! I felt (for the first time) that I was actually making my voice heard (in many states they don’t even count absentee ballots unless the race is close…but SUPPOSEDLY in CA they count them all). But somehow that excitment has gone, and now I’m back to mail in. But I DO VOTE! (and thus reserving the right to bitch! And as the ol’ Navy saying goes: “A happy sailor is a bitching sailor!”)
Larry, thanks for the link.
Congratulations to your new President. I just heard his speech. He seems very impressive, and would remove the Bush ditch separing US from most others countries.
Of course there is harder job to do like economy,…
but a new big hope for USA and the whole World
Larry,
You were right about the call. I don’t think it was even 15 seconds past 11 p.m. Eastern when CNN projected Obama’s victory.
Jean,
It’s certainly the dawn of a new era. And there is a whole lot of work to do to get the economy back on its feet, to be sure. Hope seems to be the word of the day.
Rant, you’re right, I had predicted that CNN would play about 15 seconds of musical fanfare before making the announcement.
Jean C, thank you. Ours is a very divided country. I don’t want to take a political stance, but I have friends I respect who are on both sides of this political divide. Obama’s decisive victory was achieved with a bit more than 52% of the popular vote, and in the U.S. these days, that IS a decisive victory. That’s how wide the divide is that separates the blue states from the red states.
My friends who support Obama tell me that they supported Obama (instead of, say, Senator Clinton) because they thought he had the best chance of bridging the differences between right and left. I hope they are right.