Voting Mayhem
I didn't vote today.
OK, I did vote, but I was through the mail. I mailed in our ballots, so I don't have a good election story about waiting in line to vote or being swayed at the last minute by a sign in the parking lot. Regardless, this is the first year I had a lot of difficulty deciding who to vote for and so I finally have an understanding of what it means to be an "undecided voter."
The dilemma was as follows:
I was an avid Ron Paul supporter. I don't think he would have made a terrific leader since he's sort of a crazy old uncle character- but his ideals were right in line with the Founding Fathers and the Constitution. Heard Thomas Jefferson's prose every time he spoke. It was invigorating to me the same way it must have been during the American Revolution. He spoke of liberty and freedom in a way that I've only gotten hints of from reading US History. But Ron Paul didn't win the nomination and so I was stuck with Obama, McCain, Barr, or Baldwin (no, I didn't even consider Nader, the socialist party, or the Green party). Each of these candidates represented something a little different and there were some pros and cons that I had to consider before casting my ballot.
Obama represented a completely new path, politically. It's not only his politics- it's the fact that he's African American, it's the fact that he's an articulate leader (more so than any of the other candidates), it's the fact that he's inspiring and invigorating. I didn't line up with almost ANY of his ideas about policy (other than a swift exit from Iraq and some civil liberty issues), but the very fact that he would be another Reagan or Clinton- a charismatic leader who inspired faith and hope in his electorate- was a plus and so he almost got my vote even though I didn't really like the direction he'd take the country.
McCain represents bullheaded experience. I don't like him at all. I'm sure we line up on some of the issues, but he's bought into the fact that we need security more than freedom and I cannot, ever put my support behind someone who will bankrupt us by lowering taxes and increasing our spending. I considered voting for him only because a Republican President would balance out a Democrat Congress (they have the senate majority and the house majority). Sure, it's gridlock, but it's needed in order to make sure that there isn't completely ridiculous overhaul of government. I wouldn't want a completely Republican Congress & President, either.
Barr is the Libertarian Candidate and he represents my personal voting history for the past 8 years. I voted pretty much libertarian for every election since 2000 (at least, whenever there was a Libertarian on the ballot). I like the Libertarian party, because I think they represent the historical Republican party- the one of the Thomas Jefferson who believed that the people were the government, not ruled by the government. Unfortunately, Bob Barr is a recent convert to libertarian politics and he has a voting history that puts him in line with President Bush rather than the Libertarian party. He'll need another 4-8 years before I'll believe that he's not just jumping on the Ron Paul bandwagon.
This brings us to Chuck Baldwin from the Constitution party who I actually ended up voting for. Yeah, he's a totally unknown, third party candidate from a tiny, no-name party. But, he's been endorsed by Ron Paul and his platform is almost identical. He has no chance of winning, so, my vote for Baldwin more of a statement that I reject the politics of the other three. I'd love for the United States to elect its first African American candidate- I really would. I'd love for us to be safe (although not at the current price tag) and I'd love to see the libertarian Party get more footing in the political system (it's the closest thing to being another contender for President). But no matter how important those things were, I had to cast my ballot for what I believe in. So I choice Baldwin, and I'm pretty satisfied with my choice, even though I understand that he won't be elected.
It was a last minute decision, one I literally as I was scribbling on the ballot. So, I truly identify with conflicted voters this year. Perhaps, it's because we're not in a true representative democracy any longer. We don't feel like we have good choices because the men (and women) we elect are so far removed from us that we don't really know what to think of them. I was watching John Adams last night and when I heard the speech he gave as he was being sworn in as President, it made me realize how far we've drifted from the ideals of the Revolution.
Here's part of it in it's original form (not the HBO adaptation):
"What other form of government, indeed, can so well deserve our esteem and love?
There may be little solidity in an ancient idea that congregations of men into cities and nations are the most pleasing objects in the sight of superior intelligences, but this is very certain, that to a benevolent human mind there can be no spectacle presented by any nation more pleasing, more noble, majestic, or august, than an assembly like that which has so often been seen in this and the other Chamber of Congress, of a Government in which the Executive authority, as well as that of all the branches of the Legislature, are exercised by citizens selected at regular periods by their neighbors to make and execute laws for the general good. Can anything essential, anything more than mere ornament and decoration, be added to this by robes and diamonds? Can authority be more amiable and respectable when it descends from accidents or institutions established in remote antiquity than when it springs fresh from the hearts and judgments of an honest and enlightened people? For it is the people only that are represented. It is their power and majesty that is reflected, and only for their good, in every legitimate government, under whatever form it may appear. The existence of such a government as ours for any length of time is a full proof of a general dissemination of knowledge and virtue throughout the whole body of the people. And what object or consideration more pleasing than this can be presented to the human mind? If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable it is when it springs, not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information, and benevolence." -John Adams, 1797
I want to elect men (and women) from the community. Rather than career politicians, I want people just like me (OK, maybe a little smarter) who are willing to serve in a role as a leader for a certain term on behalf of their community. Is that too much to ask?
OK, I did vote, but I was through the mail. I mailed in our ballots, so I don't have a good election story about waiting in line to vote or being swayed at the last minute by a sign in the parking lot. Regardless, this is the first year I had a lot of difficulty deciding who to vote for and so I finally have an understanding of what it means to be an "undecided voter."
The dilemma was as follows:
I was an avid Ron Paul supporter. I don't think he would have made a terrific leader since he's sort of a crazy old uncle character- but his ideals were right in line with the Founding Fathers and the Constitution. Heard Thomas Jefferson's prose every time he spoke. It was invigorating to me the same way it must have been during the American Revolution. He spoke of liberty and freedom in a way that I've only gotten hints of from reading US History. But Ron Paul didn't win the nomination and so I was stuck with Obama, McCain, Barr, or Baldwin (no, I didn't even consider Nader, the socialist party, or the Green party). Each of these candidates represented something a little different and there were some pros and cons that I had to consider before casting my ballot.
Obama represented a completely new path, politically. It's not only his politics- it's the fact that he's African American, it's the fact that he's an articulate leader (more so than any of the other candidates), it's the fact that he's inspiring and invigorating. I didn't line up with almost ANY of his ideas about policy (other than a swift exit from Iraq and some civil liberty issues), but the very fact that he would be another Reagan or Clinton- a charismatic leader who inspired faith and hope in his electorate- was a plus and so he almost got my vote even though I didn't really like the direction he'd take the country.
McCain represents bullheaded experience. I don't like him at all. I'm sure we line up on some of the issues, but he's bought into the fact that we need security more than freedom and I cannot, ever put my support behind someone who will bankrupt us by lowering taxes and increasing our spending. I considered voting for him only because a Republican President would balance out a Democrat Congress (they have the senate majority and the house majority). Sure, it's gridlock, but it's needed in order to make sure that there isn't completely ridiculous overhaul of government. I wouldn't want a completely Republican Congress & President, either.
Barr is the Libertarian Candidate and he represents my personal voting history for the past 8 years. I voted pretty much libertarian for every election since 2000 (at least, whenever there was a Libertarian on the ballot). I like the Libertarian party, because I think they represent the historical Republican party- the one of the Thomas Jefferson who believed that the people were the government, not ruled by the government. Unfortunately, Bob Barr is a recent convert to libertarian politics and he has a voting history that puts him in line with President Bush rather than the Libertarian party. He'll need another 4-8 years before I'll believe that he's not just jumping on the Ron Paul bandwagon.
This brings us to Chuck Baldwin from the Constitution party who I actually ended up voting for. Yeah, he's a totally unknown, third party candidate from a tiny, no-name party. But, he's been endorsed by Ron Paul and his platform is almost identical. He has no chance of winning, so, my vote for Baldwin more of a statement that I reject the politics of the other three. I'd love for the United States to elect its first African American candidate- I really would. I'd love for us to be safe (although not at the current price tag) and I'd love to see the libertarian Party get more footing in the political system (it's the closest thing to being another contender for President). But no matter how important those things were, I had to cast my ballot for what I believe in. So I choice Baldwin, and I'm pretty satisfied with my choice, even though I understand that he won't be elected.
It was a last minute decision, one I literally as I was scribbling on the ballot. So, I truly identify with conflicted voters this year. Perhaps, it's because we're not in a true representative democracy any longer. We don't feel like we have good choices because the men (and women) we elect are so far removed from us that we don't really know what to think of them. I was watching John Adams last night and when I heard the speech he gave as he was being sworn in as President, it made me realize how far we've drifted from the ideals of the Revolution.
Here's part of it in it's original form (not the HBO adaptation):
"What other form of government, indeed, can so well deserve our esteem and love?
There may be little solidity in an ancient idea that congregations of men into cities and nations are the most pleasing objects in the sight of superior intelligences, but this is very certain, that to a benevolent human mind there can be no spectacle presented by any nation more pleasing, more noble, majestic, or august, than an assembly like that which has so often been seen in this and the other Chamber of Congress, of a Government in which the Executive authority, as well as that of all the branches of the Legislature, are exercised by citizens selected at regular periods by their neighbors to make and execute laws for the general good. Can anything essential, anything more than mere ornament and decoration, be added to this by robes and diamonds? Can authority be more amiable and respectable when it descends from accidents or institutions established in remote antiquity than when it springs fresh from the hearts and judgments of an honest and enlightened people? For it is the people only that are represented. It is their power and majesty that is reflected, and only for their good, in every legitimate government, under whatever form it may appear. The existence of such a government as ours for any length of time is a full proof of a general dissemination of knowledge and virtue throughout the whole body of the people. And what object or consideration more pleasing than this can be presented to the human mind? If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable it is when it springs, not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information, and benevolence." -John Adams, 1797
I want to elect men (and women) from the community. Rather than career politicians, I want people just like me (OK, maybe a little smarter) who are willing to serve in a role as a leader for a certain term on behalf of their community. Is that too much to ask?