Historic Day
Four years ago I volunteered with the local Democratic campaign and spent many hours working to win votes for John Kerry. Despite victories in my city, county and state, Sen. Kerry lost the election, and I was devastated. Due to changes in my work schedule I wasn't able to volunteer this time around. I've been almost afraid to get my hopes up too much, after being so bitterly disappointed last time. So I have barely mentioned the election here in my LJ, despite how much it's dominated the news, the airwaves, and my thoughts.
I've tried to avoid blindly falling into the Obama-worship. Yes, he's a charismatic figure, a fantastic orator, seems like a really nice guy, and is attracting droves of admirers and first-time voters. But is he really that great? Then I watched the debates, and read up on his positions, and listened to many of his stump speeches, and I couldn't find anything that I disagreed with. His positions match mine on the issues, and I like his attitudes on pretty much everything. I find myself nodding constantly during his speeches. I admire how he's tried to stay above the fray of negative campaigning as much as can be expected.
I'm still gun shy after 2004, but--and I know the word has become a cliche after how much Obama's campaign has used it--I have hope.
The last eight years have been so horrible, and have damaged the country in so many ways, that I truly cannot bear the thought of another four years of the same.
The economy is in hideous shape, and you better believe it's impacted my family directly. We're mired in Iraq while bin Laden smirks at us from a cave somewhere. Millions suffer and even die needlessly from lack of health care here in our own country. Teen pregnancy and STDs are on the increase thanks to an unrealistic abstinence-only education plan. Legislators waste time fretting over gay marriage, which harms precisely no one, while our infrastructure deteriorates and our educational system is a shambles. The goodwill the world showed toward us after 9/11 has been squandered and turned into scorn and derision. Our veterans must cope with inadequate benefits and hospitals that are outdated, moldy and inadequate. The commodity we export the most seems to be jobs, leaving thousands unemployed and factories gathering dust while foreigners produce our goods. The government can wire-tap our phones without warrant or cause. We torture prisoners of war.
And that's not to mention the thousands of military and civilian lives that have been lost in Iraq, in a war that was not necessary for the fight against Al Qaeda, which has destabilized what was already the most volatile region on Earth, and which was founded on the bald-faced lies of the Bush administration. Bush should be impeached on that basis alone, but at this point kicking him out the door in January will be good enough. (See icon.)
As the bumper sticker says, if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Obama won't be able to work miracles, but he can start the healing that our nation so desperately needs, and help unite us in a new direction. The American Dream isn't dead, but it's curled up in the corner with a black eye and a bloody nose, whimpering. We need a fresh start, a new set of policies, a second chance in the eyes of the world to live up to our potential and the Founding Father's ideals. America is better than what the last eight years have made us.
Please, VOTE. If you're never voted before, just take your ID or other proof of residency to your nearest polling place, and VOTE. If you don't know where to go, call city hall or your public library. Bring a relative or a friend. Walk there, take a bus, ride a bike, drive a car, go on rollerblades, ride a UFO, I don't care, but GO VOTE.
Wisconsin is one of the states to offer early voting, so my entire family's already voted. My parents, Nama, Aunt Rosie, my cousin Scott, and I have all cast our ballots already. I had to wait in line 45 minutes yesterday at city hall to get a ballot, and it was a long, hot, stuffy wait, but I'm not complaining. Millions of people around the world, women especially, don't have the option. Of if they do, they have to worry about car bombs, drive-by shootings, suicide bombers, or other intimidation at the polls. In America, I can go to the polls without fear and be (reasonably) sure my vote will be counted. I am very fortunate. Voting is a privilege. Do it. It matters.
So assuming you haven't already (or you're not one of the non-Americans who reads my LJ), get to the polls and have your say about the future of our nation. The stakes are as high as they have ever been.
In short,
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
I've tried to avoid blindly falling into the Obama-worship. Yes, he's a charismatic figure, a fantastic orator, seems like a really nice guy, and is attracting droves of admirers and first-time voters. But is he really that great? Then I watched the debates, and read up on his positions, and listened to many of his stump speeches, and I couldn't find anything that I disagreed with. His positions match mine on the issues, and I like his attitudes on pretty much everything. I find myself nodding constantly during his speeches. I admire how he's tried to stay above the fray of negative campaigning as much as can be expected.
I'm still gun shy after 2004, but--and I know the word has become a cliche after how much Obama's campaign has used it--I have hope.
The last eight years have been so horrible, and have damaged the country in so many ways, that I truly cannot bear the thought of another four years of the same.
The economy is in hideous shape, and you better believe it's impacted my family directly. We're mired in Iraq while bin Laden smirks at us from a cave somewhere. Millions suffer and even die needlessly from lack of health care here in our own country. Teen pregnancy and STDs are on the increase thanks to an unrealistic abstinence-only education plan. Legislators waste time fretting over gay marriage, which harms precisely no one, while our infrastructure deteriorates and our educational system is a shambles. The goodwill the world showed toward us after 9/11 has been squandered and turned into scorn and derision. Our veterans must cope with inadequate benefits and hospitals that are outdated, moldy and inadequate. The commodity we export the most seems to be jobs, leaving thousands unemployed and factories gathering dust while foreigners produce our goods. The government can wire-tap our phones without warrant or cause. We torture prisoners of war.
And that's not to mention the thousands of military and civilian lives that have been lost in Iraq, in a war that was not necessary for the fight against Al Qaeda, which has destabilized what was already the most volatile region on Earth, and which was founded on the bald-faced lies of the Bush administration. Bush should be impeached on that basis alone, but at this point kicking him out the door in January will be good enough. (See icon.)
As the bumper sticker says, if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Obama won't be able to work miracles, but he can start the healing that our nation so desperately needs, and help unite us in a new direction. The American Dream isn't dead, but it's curled up in the corner with a black eye and a bloody nose, whimpering. We need a fresh start, a new set of policies, a second chance in the eyes of the world to live up to our potential and the Founding Father's ideals. America is better than what the last eight years have made us.
Please, VOTE. If you're never voted before, just take your ID or other proof of residency to your nearest polling place, and VOTE. If you don't know where to go, call city hall or your public library. Bring a relative or a friend. Walk there, take a bus, ride a bike, drive a car, go on rollerblades, ride a UFO, I don't care, but GO VOTE.
Wisconsin is one of the states to offer early voting, so my entire family's already voted. My parents, Nama, Aunt Rosie, my cousin Scott, and I have all cast our ballots already. I had to wait in line 45 minutes yesterday at city hall to get a ballot, and it was a long, hot, stuffy wait, but I'm not complaining. Millions of people around the world, women especially, don't have the option. Of if they do, they have to worry about car bombs, drive-by shootings, suicide bombers, or other intimidation at the polls. In America, I can go to the polls without fear and be (reasonably) sure my vote will be counted. I am very fortunate. Voting is a privilege. Do it. It matters.
So assuming you haven't already (or you're not one of the non-Americans who reads my LJ), get to the polls and have your say about the future of our nation. The stakes are as high as they have ever been.
In short,
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE