PoLOLtics
I didn't vote. I'm not even registered. So you will get no voting result thoughts here. But--
If this election taught me anything, though, it's that I should care about what happens to the country and my state and the decisions their governments make because there's a bigger picture than my minuscule corner of the world. Even someone politically and worldly ill-informed like me knows America is in a bind, and something needs to be done about it. And even if the country were seeing better times, it's just as important to make sure things stay that way as much as possible.
During the 2004 election season was the first time I came across the sentiment that if you don't vote, you have no right to complain about what's going on with the country. I don't know how valid that is, and back then it didn't matter to me either way. I was 18, a senior in high school more absorbed in whether I'd get the right SAT scores for 100% Florida Bright Futures coverage (didn't), I'd be accepted to all the colleges I applied to (didn't), and whether I could maintain my tech side salutatorian status (did). I lived in a comfortable home with my parents taking care of just about everything I needed. I didn't even drive yet. I was a self-absorbed kid young adult who didn't care about things she herself didn't need to worry about.
I still am very self-absorbed. That hasn't changed much, unfortunately. But now I can drive. What's this, gas prices are getting crazy high? Madne-- Oh wait, can't complain, didn't vote. I've lived several sporadic months where I had to be the designated adult. Oh geez, what do these bills even mean? I can't believe this is stuff I'm going to have to deal with all the time once I'm on my own. I'm graduating in May, so I'm looking for internships that'll jump-start my career. What, the economy's messed up, people are losing jobs, and people are having a harder time getting them? Well feck, that's the world I'm going to be entering once I'm done with school. It might still be self-absorbed thinking about all these issues in regards to me me me, but at least I've come to realize that because of that what happens to the country does matter, and whether or not you believe one vote can decide an entire election as a citizen you still have your little bitty say in those things. Might as well use it right and well.
That, I realized too late into this election. Plus, I'm a giant whiny college senior too caught up in the sucktastic present and my immediate post-graduation future and a horrid multi-tasker. I didn't have or didn't want to make the time to get myself properly edumacated about the candidates and the issues. But now that this election's decided, there's a new four years to get in that mindset and catch up. Maybe the election night hooplah's just making me feel more patriotic than usual, but I like to believe I'll care more the next time around and actually vote. I'll probably slump back a week later and think, "Politics? What-the-feck-ever! Lol, why so cheesy Ash-face?" I don't know. We'll see. If anything, at least now I'm more aware of the world around me. Or at least the country. Baby steps are important, yes.
With all that awkwardly said, I will go back to summarizing my broadcast news group's final project madness, coming up with questions for interviews, and reading a 320-some page book due 6 PM tomorr-day. Giant Whiny College Senior Mode: ON.
If this election taught me anything, though, it's that I should care about what happens to the country and my state and the decisions their governments make because there's a bigger picture than my minuscule corner of the world. Even someone politically and worldly ill-informed like me knows America is in a bind, and something needs to be done about it. And even if the country were seeing better times, it's just as important to make sure things stay that way as much as possible.
During the 2004 election season was the first time I came across the sentiment that if you don't vote, you have no right to complain about what's going on with the country. I don't know how valid that is, and back then it didn't matter to me either way. I was 18, a senior in high school more absorbed in whether I'd get the right SAT scores for 100% Florida Bright Futures coverage (didn't), I'd be accepted to all the colleges I applied to (didn't), and whether I could maintain my tech side salutatorian status (did). I lived in a comfortable home with my parents taking care of just about everything I needed. I didn't even drive yet. I was a self-absorbed kid young adult who didn't care about things she herself didn't need to worry about.
I still am very self-absorbed. That hasn't changed much, unfortunately. But now I can drive. What's this, gas prices are getting crazy high? Madne-- Oh wait, can't complain, didn't vote. I've lived several sporadic months where I had to be the designated adult. Oh geez, what do these bills even mean? I can't believe this is stuff I'm going to have to deal with all the time once I'm on my own. I'm graduating in May, so I'm looking for internships that'll jump-start my career. What, the economy's messed up, people are losing jobs, and people are having a harder time getting them? Well feck, that's the world I'm going to be entering once I'm done with school. It might still be self-absorbed thinking about all these issues in regards to me me me, but at least I've come to realize that because of that what happens to the country does matter, and whether or not you believe one vote can decide an entire election as a citizen you still have your little bitty say in those things. Might as well use it right and well.
That, I realized too late into this election. Plus, I'm a giant whiny college senior too caught up in the sucktastic present and my immediate post-graduation future and a horrid multi-tasker. I didn't have or didn't want to make the time to get myself properly edumacated about the candidates and the issues. But now that this election's decided, there's a new four years to get in that mindset and catch up. Maybe the election night hooplah's just making me feel more patriotic than usual, but I like to believe I'll care more the next time around and actually vote. I'll probably slump back a week later and think, "Politics? What-the-feck-ever! Lol, why so cheesy Ash-face?" I don't know. We'll see. If anything, at least now I'm more aware of the world around me. Or at least the country. Baby steps are important, yes.
With all that awkwardly said, I will go back to summarizing my broadcast news group's final project madness, coming up with questions for interviews, and reading a 320-some page book due 6 PM tomorr-day. Giant Whiny College Senior Mode: ON.