If I hear one more arrogant liberal on Twitter say they are not going to vote, as an act of protest, I am going to smear blue stamp pad ink on their nose. Really, I mean it. I will fwap them with my registered voter card and hang them by their chads.
First of all, in the context of our 2012 democratic process today, right now, it is not a protest! It is a way to get out of being responsible for having mixed feelings for Obama and the democratic process. And who doesn't?! But grow up! Be an activist! Work to get Senators in office that you love. Hell, RUN for office if you like. But this is just totally insane and dangerous.
And it genuinely pisses me off if for no other reason than that women and African Americans couldn't vote at one time in the veeeeery recent past. There is absolutely no way you can convince me it is stronger to not vote now.
And just as importantly, it's offensive because I picture citizens of other countries walking for a full day and standing in line for ten hours just to vote. And then holding up that beautiful blue thumb for the international cameras, beaming from ear to ear. They may go home and find their house burned to the ground, or that family members have been beaten or raped or killed because they went out to vote. Theirs is an act of protest. Not voting in our election is, in the context of 2012 America, kinda bullshit.
I understand the need for vote-abstaining protests (a kind of Lysistrata of voting, only you can, well, still have all the sex you want which could unexpectedly keep the masses happy though, creating a decline in anger-driven activism, so maybe that's not a good plan...) In South Africa, the "No Land! No House! No Vote!" campaign started in 2004 was a strong movement based on the argument that the poor were not represented and therefore a huge outpouring of committed non-voters could get some attention and make a difference.
And even if there was a way to do it in some kind of wonderful guerrilla theater near the polls (perhaps a flash-mob type thing where thousands of people stand there naked, painted red, white and blue with duct tape on their mouths and strategically placed corporate brand label stickers -- yes, a bitch to take off later, but that's commitment, people!), there's no good way to really count how many people Didn't Vote In Protest and how many are just lame-ass, apathetic bums. (Did I just use the word bums? What am I, my grandfather?) So really there is no great statement being made. If you were a Senator and you walked out on a vote, that would be one thing -- people would see it and the vote tallies would say "abstained," etc. But this?
This is like saying, "I don't really want to go on a date with you, but would you bring the dinner home in a doggie bag and drop it off at my house in case there was anything in it I might like? Thanks."
Or, "I don't really like you enough to sleep with you, but I'll check back later and see if you still have a nice ass after a year later and I'll think about it..."
I admit I am partial to the Australia system. Voting is mandatory with a small fine for not voting, but you can still go in and rip it up or draw a large penis on it. Your call. Lovely! Perfect! Wow -- what would be the result of that kind of election in November, I wonder. (Possibly a dick as president, but, I mean, we've had that before, so...)
Look, seriously, this is America. Like it or not, we vote for the best option available -- that's what we do. Because otherwise we end up with the worst.
And let me just say that if Romney does win this thing, you do have to take responsibility for that. Sorry. And then I'm coming to your house to get my equal pay, hospital visitation for my gay friends, my health insurance, some goddamned ice for the polar bears, and my free pap smear. Deal?
Follow Katie Goodman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/katiegoodman
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
Just to briefly touch on why I think President Obama has done remarkably well.
When he took office we were losing over 700,000 jobs PER MONTH. We lost almost 5 million jobs in the first ten months of his first term. And we have now had 25 consecutive months of jobs growth. Maybe more impressive is that despite intransigence and record-shattering use of the filibuster, he has been able to get us back on track as a nation. We have a long way to go, but we are heading in the right direction.
There are many other accomplishments, far too many to list here. But they are impressive. And while some, or even many, may not have gone as far as some liberals would like, and farther than conservatives would like, he has governed from a pragmatic, rational standpoint to get things done and move us forward.
I need to point out that the right-wing/conservative/to/Republinut behavior the past three years has been reprehensible, deplorable and downright dangerous to the nation. The debt-ceiling fiasco is truly abhorrent and is entirely a made-up crisis for which they almost dragged us over the cliff.
And while their behavior of the past three years is inexcusable, it is made even worse because it is they, the Republican party, whose incompetence and irresponsibility during the 2001 to 2007 period led to many of our problems. Particularly our fiscal problems. While they came into full control with a surplus, they left with the worst deficits in history. While they came into full control with a solid economy, if minor recession, they left having put the US on the edge of the worst recession since the Great Depression.
How the modern Republican party ever gets a single vote, is mind-boggling. And how anyone with even the slightest critical thinking skills would say they won't vote as a protest, at the risk of letting Republicans take control again, is pure idiocy.
Republicans claim government doesn't work, and prove it every time they get elected.
(continued)
Really, it's one of the silliest things I can imagine. Even if Obama hasn't lived up to your expectations there are lots of other positions to vote for. Heck, even if there is nobody you'd want to vote for, surely there are people you'd want to vote against by voting for their opponents.
has become . . . . best of the two. We no longer have a "free election
system" in this Country tho. With the "career politicians" there is so much
power & influence that no one can oppose them. The people can not longer
even chose a candadate . . . . the cost is prohibitive. Big Money just
wants a candadate with enough digits on his hand to hold a pen so he can
sign whatever Bills they put before him. [ I think it was Grover Norquist,
Republican who said this].
Lost your job and want to receive unemployment benefits? Just head down to the employment office and show them proof you voted in the last election. What, you didn't vote? Sorry...vote in the next one and show back up here then.
Your civil rights have been violated and you want to sue? Fine, just provide the court with a copy of your voting record. Otherwise, come back after the next election.
Et cetera.
It's not about WHO people vote for, it's about caring enough TO vote. If you don't care enough about your fellow countrymen to at least register an opinion when you've got the chance....If you are perfectly willing to sit back mute and let everyone else hash it out...then don't expect to reap the benefits (if we have any left). You can't just begin to care when it's YOU who needs help.
You can flail around trying to work inside this system as long as you want. If you think voting for him will give you more of a voice than you would have if you didn't vote for him, that is up to you.
I am completely, utterly through with this form of government. I choose to live outside of the system. I think there is an opportunity to that, still. But, and this is crucial, I think Mr. Obama may be the worst threat to that liberty of any candidate. His record is more against civil liberties than any president we've ever had.
I am way left of D. No way I'd ever vote R. Doesn't mean I think that voting D has to be the right thing to do.
You're "through with this form of government?" Care to tell me who has a better form of government? Greece? China? North Korea?
Perhaps you just have a problem with Capitalism. Bet you don't have a problem with the things capitalism brings you, however. Perhaps you believe you're "thinking outside the box"? I think you ARE the box and don't realize it.
Government is merely a collection of human beings. You just have a problem with human beings and their unbelievable frailties, fears and greed. SO FAR, our government is the best there is. Do a little traveling around the world and check it out. Read a little history and check it out.
Most of the issues I'm sure you're whining about are actually the fault of Congress, not the President. So vote those bums outta there!
This was a great piece!
Grow up and vote.
p.s. Obama's is the worst record on civil liberties for every President? Now I KNOW you have a lot to learn.
Ummmm, Civil liberties? Rubber stamped the Patriot Act, NDAA, and let's see, oh yeah - exactly how safe is it to be a protestor now that he's been president?
But the real issue is just that so many people think we're done inventing government. Like, this is it, this is as good as it gets. I would dispute with you that ours is the best so far, but that's neither here nor there.
What I want to know is if you would agree that government can be better than this?
And if so, does voting for Obama or anyone in the current system speed up the process of making it better?
Oh please? I love it. I hope you didn't sweat writing that!
Excellent, excellent.
And your best line (and I may need to steal this--giving full credit of course), "Like it or not, we vote for the best option available -- that's what we do. Because otherwise we end up with the worst."
This piece should be on the front page.
The President is the most obvious and likely the most important for many reasons, Supreme Court not the least of those reasons. But it is not the only reason to vote.
As much as President Obama has disappointed the progressive wing to the democrat party - what little is left of it - most of this has been completely out of his control.
I will vote for Obama, hoping that his status as a second term President will free him up a bit and hoping (probably hopelessly hoping) that the legislative bodies will abandon their policy of strict obstruction, because the alternative is ... FAR WORSE.