(no subject)
i like being proven wrong about people. i've become a misanthrope who categorizes people, mostly cause of my old retail job. but at the café yesterday, i had almost all sweet, sweet customers who were so nice to me. and when people who you write off as just being a dumb jock, or a ditz, or whatever, turn out to be really sweet, nice, intelligent, thoughtful people worth knowing - I LOVE THAT! i gotta remember to give everyone a chance and you should too.
anyway, here is an article i wrote for the school paper. might clear up why i haven't hopped on the obama train and don't plan to vote. i'm really excited for it to get printed.
Recently, a coworker asked me if I had any “gay friends.” When I said yes, he said, “Oh, so you’re liberal!” and immediately assumed, from my one word response to his question, that I was voting for Barack Obama. In the United States we have an extremely polarizing two-party system. As a result, most Americans view politics in black and white terms. You’re either for us or against us, either a donkey or an elephant, and with that label comes a whole set of beliefs, pre-made for your convenience. There are several problems with this set-up. First and foremost: just how different are these two parties? Historically, American politicians - especially presidents - have been wealthy, Caucasian, Christian men. How much variety in opinion can there be, when the only two available options are coming from virtually the exact same worldview? Although both parties claim to be harbingers of societal change, with both a black man and a woman running this election, this change is a myth. These politicians continue to represent the interests of the upper class, the same people who have been in power for 200 years. Secondly, how can only two parties represent the variety of beliefs held by the 300 million people who populate the U.S? It just doesn’t make sense. The parties become “umbrella parties,” representing a huge number of issues. The only way to ensure that your voice is heard, is through money: politicians need incredible amounts of money to be elected at the national level. The result is an elitist system which gives power to a small minority of men and women whose interests tend to reflect those of the corporations who got them into power (Halliburton, anyone?) rather than those of the people. Before going to the voting booths in November, ask yourself if you want to contribute to a system which does not represent you or the issues you care about, but rather gives power to politicians who spend your tax dollars on war, elections and corporate bail outs while you struggle to pay for student loans.
anyway, here is an article i wrote for the school paper. might clear up why i haven't hopped on the obama train and don't plan to vote. i'm really excited for it to get printed.
Recently, a coworker asked me if I had any “gay friends.” When I said yes, he said, “Oh, so you’re liberal!” and immediately assumed, from my one word response to his question, that I was voting for Barack Obama. In the United States we have an extremely polarizing two-party system. As a result, most Americans view politics in black and white terms. You’re either for us or against us, either a donkey or an elephant, and with that label comes a whole set of beliefs, pre-made for your convenience. There are several problems with this set-up. First and foremost: just how different are these two parties? Historically, American politicians - especially presidents - have been wealthy, Caucasian, Christian men. How much variety in opinion can there be, when the only two available options are coming from virtually the exact same worldview? Although both parties claim to be harbingers of societal change, with both a black man and a woman running this election, this change is a myth. These politicians continue to represent the interests of the upper class, the same people who have been in power for 200 years. Secondly, how can only two parties represent the variety of beliefs held by the 300 million people who populate the U.S? It just doesn’t make sense. The parties become “umbrella parties,” representing a huge number of issues. The only way to ensure that your voice is heard, is through money: politicians need incredible amounts of money to be elected at the national level. The result is an elitist system which gives power to a small minority of men and women whose interests tend to reflect those of the corporations who got them into power (Halliburton, anyone?) rather than those of the people. Before going to the voting booths in November, ask yourself if you want to contribute to a system which does not represent you or the issues you care about, but rather gives power to politicians who spend your tax dollars on war, elections and corporate bail outs while you struggle to pay for student loans.