Two weeks to go
Writing by treason on Sunday, 22 of October , 2006 at 1:41 pm
“Percentage of Americans who cannot say in which year the September 11 attacks occurred: 30.”
– Harper’s Index, November 2006
Is anyone surprised that the number isn’t higher? I am. Anyway, the Sunday paper showed up and in it was a 44-page voter guide. I’d like to think that I’m not the only subscriber who sat down and read it. I’m still reading it. I’m even reading about the people who are running in other parts of the state and whose names won’t show up on my ballot. My paper ballot.
Yes, there was a tiny blurb in the guide - on page 9 - about the paper ballots. Easy to miss. I’ve already decided that only a handful of voters are aware of the change in legislation and that they’ll be expected to master a new skill on November 7. Hope grief counselors are standing by when voters flip out and claim that the Holocaust was less traumatic than this new ballot.
At any rate, we met up with a few friends Friday night and voting came up in our conversation. One person questioned the method in which people go to the polls and split their vote. For example, they vote for a Republican president and Democratic candidates for Congress. Or vice versa.
Another person is struggling because he’s a staunch Democrat who’s having trouble voting for at least two people on the ballot he knows are incompetent. He really wants to vote for the Republican candidates he knows are better qualified, but when his party is so close to taking the House and Senate, how can he afford to vote for the GOP?
Another has it all figured out. You simply vote against every incumbent. Hmmm. Now, I know people who do that and I know others who specifically vote for the incumbents. I asked him for his reasoning.
“It’s like your job. People get hired, they’re new, and they have all sorts of energy to do the job.”
“Idealism.”
“Exactly. They’re idealistic. They’re not cynical. They haven’t been ruined by the system. They aren’t burned out or corrupt. New blood is good.”
“Inexperience, you mean.”
“No, new blood. You gotta get rid of the dead wood and get new people in there.”
“So, that’s your strategy? You’re definitely going to vote that way?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“I never vote.”
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