Five comments in a six block radius
And this morning was a definite roll-out-of-bed-don't-bother morning. Living in New York is such an ego boost. I just went up to my old office building because that's where Actors Equity resides, which provided serious flashbacks. Oh how I miss the Kerry campaign (and everything attached to that *g*).
Times Sq. Moment:
Random Tourist: You're a New Yorker right?
Me: *looks around, she's not speaking to me is she? Oh, she is.* What?
RT: You're wearing jeans, a long-sleeved black shirt and you're looking at the sidewalk, you're a New Yorker, right?
Me: Ahem, what?
RT: Can you tell me how to get to blank?
Me: *resists temptation to be stereotypical New Yorker* Sure it's over there. *Also resists temptation to cross arms and point in both directions.*
RT: Thanks New Yorker! *leaves*
Giggle.
And then on the way back to work I was thinking about the Electoral College system and getting all irritated all over again - and nearly had a thing fall on my head but succeeded in not getting smooshed - because it's just such a frustrating obsolete system and it offends me, dammit. I can understand why somewhere like Rhode Island would like the system, but as it stands currently, any campaign that says "Every Vote Counts" is LYING. Each state majority counts. That's IT. Why not let a Republican in New York have a vote that counts? Why not have a Democrat in Texas be able to feel like she actually VOTED. My vote makes no difference in New York, in Connecticut and it would make no difference in Texas. I'd have to go to a swing state for my vote to actually make a difference. That's ludicrous! (Of course, this should by no means discourage you from voting because if you, my friends, do not vote, I will wreak terrible, horrible vengeance upon you.) Even the campaign in New York was mostly about fundraising. I mean sure we tried to get the "Democratic Base" energised in New York, get people registered...but the real campaigning went on when we went to places like Michigan. (And I even had a place to stay, grin.)
Honestly, when was the last time a national campaign spent any real time in a place like Rhode Island? Maybe their two (or so) electoral votes have more power than they'd get in a popular vote, but should Americans from all over the country be penalised for that? Why not take the people who vote Democrat in New York and add those numbers to the people who vote Democrat in California, in Ohio, in Texas, in Wisconsin, etc. And have a popular vote! A Republican in New York has just as much right to have her say as a Democrat, and yet as it stands now, they don't! And then the fact that not all the states bind the electoral college votes to the outcome of the state results, the fact that there's no representation for the minority party in each state in the college...
Why is it still there? Why hasn't it been rendered obsolete and taken out of the game?
Anyone got answers for me?
Times Sq. Moment:
Random Tourist: You're a New Yorker right?
Me: *looks around, she's not speaking to me is she? Oh, she is.* What?
RT: You're wearing jeans, a long-sleeved black shirt and you're looking at the sidewalk, you're a New Yorker, right?
Me: Ahem, what?
RT: Can you tell me how to get to blank?
Me: *resists temptation to be stereotypical New Yorker* Sure it's over there. *Also resists temptation to cross arms and point in both directions.*
RT: Thanks New Yorker! *leaves*
Giggle.
And then on the way back to work I was thinking about the Electoral College system and getting all irritated all over again - and nearly had a thing fall on my head but succeeded in not getting smooshed - because it's just such a frustrating obsolete system and it offends me, dammit. I can understand why somewhere like Rhode Island would like the system, but as it stands currently, any campaign that says "Every Vote Counts" is LYING. Each state majority counts. That's IT. Why not let a Republican in New York have a vote that counts? Why not have a Democrat in Texas be able to feel like she actually VOTED. My vote makes no difference in New York, in Connecticut and it would make no difference in Texas. I'd have to go to a swing state for my vote to actually make a difference. That's ludicrous! (Of course, this should by no means discourage you from voting because if you, my friends, do not vote, I will wreak terrible, horrible vengeance upon you.) Even the campaign in New York was mostly about fundraising. I mean sure we tried to get the "Democratic Base" energised in New York, get people registered...but the real campaigning went on when we went to places like Michigan. (And I even had a place to stay, grin.)
Honestly, when was the last time a national campaign spent any real time in a place like Rhode Island? Maybe their two (or so) electoral votes have more power than they'd get in a popular vote, but should Americans from all over the country be penalised for that? Why not take the people who vote Democrat in New York and add those numbers to the people who vote Democrat in California, in Ohio, in Texas, in Wisconsin, etc. And have a popular vote! A Republican in New York has just as much right to have her say as a Democrat, and yet as it stands now, they don't! And then the fact that not all the states bind the electoral college votes to the outcome of the state results, the fact that there's no representation for the minority party in each state in the college...
Why is it still there? Why hasn't it been rendered obsolete and taken out of the game?
Anyone got answers for me?