Maintaining the status quo
I am, of course, very happy that Barack Obama won a second term last night. There was an exceptional amount of screaming and cheering coming from our apartment, considering there were only the two of us at home.
There was no question about who I would vote for. I have always voted Democratic, and before I was old enough, hoped Democratic. Growing up in Evanston does that to you. But four years ago, it was a different kind of night -- a night where you could be ecstatic, hopeful, feel like something had really fundamentally changed. And then healthcare reform flopped, the auto industry got bailed out, another test-based education reform was implemented, support for gay marriage was hemmed and hawed upon, and thousands of men announced their right to legislate what happens to my vagina.
I do believe in our President. I believe that he can fix some of the mess we're in. I believe that he needs this second term, because Bush and the recession left him with a real lot to clean up after.
But what I care the most about are social issues, and the lack of attention to those really depresses me. I do not understand why anyone who has ever been a student or known a teacher can say that teachers are the problem with education, or that testing and accountability is the solution. I cannot comprehend why conservatives see gay marriage as a threat. I simply cannot fathom how so much of this country does not realize, or does not care that our society still treats women as objects at worst, and second-class citizens at best. I don't even.
I support the Democrats, because they are more likely to pay attention to these issues. But it saddens me that they pay attention to them only occasionally, when it's politically convenient to do so. This election, I did not donate or volunteer. I voted more selfishly than in 2008. But I also voted while being horribly aware of the limitations of the two parties, and the flaws in our system. And knowing that however much I wish that things will really change, they likely won't. I voted not because I thought I would gain more rights and respect as a woman. I voted because I hoped not to lose those rights as a woman that I already have. And it shouldn't be that way.
There was no question about who I would vote for. I have always voted Democratic, and before I was old enough, hoped Democratic. Growing up in Evanston does that to you. But four years ago, it was a different kind of night -- a night where you could be ecstatic, hopeful, feel like something had really fundamentally changed. And then healthcare reform flopped, the auto industry got bailed out, another test-based education reform was implemented, support for gay marriage was hemmed and hawed upon, and thousands of men announced their right to legislate what happens to my vagina.
I do believe in our President. I believe that he can fix some of the mess we're in. I believe that he needs this second term, because Bush and the recession left him with a real lot to clean up after.
But what I care the most about are social issues, and the lack of attention to those really depresses me. I do not understand why anyone who has ever been a student or known a teacher can say that teachers are the problem with education, or that testing and accountability is the solution. I cannot comprehend why conservatives see gay marriage as a threat. I simply cannot fathom how so much of this country does not realize, or does not care that our society still treats women as objects at worst, and second-class citizens at best. I don't even.
I support the Democrats, because they are more likely to pay attention to these issues. But it saddens me that they pay attention to them only occasionally, when it's politically convenient to do so. This election, I did not donate or volunteer. I voted more selfishly than in 2008. But I also voted while being horribly aware of the limitations of the two parties, and the flaws in our system. And knowing that however much I wish that things will really change, they likely won't. I voted not because I thought I would gain more rights and respect as a woman. I voted because I hoped not to lose those rights as a woman that I already have. And it shouldn't be that way.