So I am embarrassed to say that I did not vote today. What's wrong with me??? People have fought long and hard so that I have this freedom and then silly me, I just let the day slip by without taking advantage of that fact! I always try and vote...and I am sad that today I didn't!
Here is my reason - lame though it may be...I am extremely naive when it comes to anything political. I just don't get it - and yes, I know that is my own fault! I just don't know where to go for the information I want. Anything put out by one party or the other will be biased towards their particular party...watching the news is a joke - it is so skewed to the left or right, depending on which channel you happen to be watching. I don't feel informed enough on the basics to even pick up the newspaper and be able to decipher any of it. Seriously, where do you go for the facts and not all the latest hoopla and/or about the latest smearing campaign...I just want the facts!
I consider myself a relatively smart person...I'm no genius, but I am a college grad with a fair bit of common sense, (though some may argue that fact!) but I cannot get past this mental block with anything and everything political! I always try and read up on the issues I'd be voting on...but things go right over my head. I wish for my college days again, when I had my own political guru...my co-worker's hubby would come into the office over our lunch breaks (or more likely after office hours since we both devoted way too many hours to our office during the day). But he'd go through each bill or initiative and explain in plain English what was really being voted on without trying to convince me of anything- thanks again for my politics-for-dummies course!!!
I think this is my main hold up...I'm just scared to vote on anything...even if it sounds good, without knowing all the details. Sure, give the kids a new park....oh wait, this lovely park is being built on top of a radio-active chemical spill spot that is sure to cause every child's skin to break out in purple spots and to grow a third ear on the back of their heads...oh, if only I would have known.
Now I know that this election is not all about new parks or school levies or anything like that...and the facts are EVERYWHERE on these presidential candidates. I just need to give up my fantasy of there being one right candidate to vote for...there isn't one 'right' person running for office and there never will be...so I just need to have a little faith and vote for the one who will do the best job overall.
When it really comes down to it, I know who I would have voted for if I had gone...and I should have gone to cast my vote. So, to all my 2 readers out there...forgive me. I'll make it up next time around!
5 comments:
I'm so with ya. I didn't vote either, so don't feel bad! I need a political adviser to read everything and tell me who to vote for! :) ps like the new header, etc! :)
HA! HA! HA! I am so glad I have Adam to tell me all the issues. He knows all the good non-partisan websites. I suddenly feel like I have to know all about politics to live outside the nation's capital, so once a week I get Adam to give me a briefing on the week. Since he watches CSPAN all day at his job. What a nerd! But I love him!
fyi, i like reading the economist -it is full of international stuff (has a cheat sheet/ two page review, great for busy moms!)and best of all - is quite objective.
otherwise, i find the news often very frustrating. . . i understand that.
Dani do you realize what a great writer you are? I love reading your posts. Always witty and well worded (is that a word?). I totally hear you on the political thing...I don't want to blindly vote, that's worse than not voting. And what do you do when you don't like any of the candidates? UGH!
It is totally tough. I feel for you. It is constantly a difficulty to stay up on the issues, but it seems like in the end you have to go with the gut. Good luck in November.
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