(no subject)
I've been doing Normal Person things this week.
On Saturday, I saw Barack Obama speak in Bangor. 5,700 people packed the auditorium. It was intense. I liked him enough to register as a Democrat, something I nevereverever thought I would do, and caucus for him on Sunday. I told Zak about this and he said "Of course a demagogue doesn't sound sleazy, that's what makes them a demagogue." I don't trust Obama any more than I trust any politician, and no, I don't believe that two-party electoral politics can actually bring about meaningful change...but at least he hasn't voted for some of the more vile things that Hillary Clinton has, like cluster bombs and land mines.
I've been reading about the Unconventional Action protests for the DNC and RNC this summer (http://unconventionalaction.org/), and part of me wants to be involved. But at the same time, I don't see boycotting the election as particularly productive. You can back it up with plenty of ideology, but in the end not voting will register with people as simple apathy. Can I protest corporate-controlled, representional politics and yet still vote? Would I be a huge hypocrite to say that I don't believe in the system, but would rather have Obama in office than McCain?
Today I went to the gym. I swam for about 45min and did 35min or so on the exercise bikes. My leg fared surprisingly well. I felt very out-of-place at the university rec center, but oh well. Once it's warm again I'll go back to riding my bike.
On Friday night I went to a bar in Orono. I played fooseball and drank beer.
Normal Person things.
On Saturday, I saw Barack Obama speak in Bangor. 5,700 people packed the auditorium. It was intense. I liked him enough to register as a Democrat, something I nevereverever thought I would do, and caucus for him on Sunday. I told Zak about this and he said "Of course a demagogue doesn't sound sleazy, that's what makes them a demagogue." I don't trust Obama any more than I trust any politician, and no, I don't believe that two-party electoral politics can actually bring about meaningful change...but at least he hasn't voted for some of the more vile things that Hillary Clinton has, like cluster bombs and land mines.
I've been reading about the Unconventional Action protests for the DNC and RNC this summer (http://unconventionalaction.org/), and part of me wants to be involved. But at the same time, I don't see boycotting the election as particularly productive. You can back it up with plenty of ideology, but in the end not voting will register with people as simple apathy. Can I protest corporate-controlled, representional politics and yet still vote? Would I be a huge hypocrite to say that I don't believe in the system, but would rather have Obama in office than McCain?
Today I went to the gym. I swam for about 45min and did 35min or so on the exercise bikes. My leg fared surprisingly well. I felt very out-of-place at the university rec center, but oh well. Once it's warm again I'll go back to riding my bike.
On Friday night I went to a bar in Orono. I played fooseball and drank beer.
Normal Person things.