Freedom of Choice

[janradder]

Two years ago on Election Day I left my polling station filled with nervous hope. It was warm outside, and the playground next to the park building where I voted was filled with kids and parents. I sat down on a bench and let Éiden run off to climb the equipment and watched as people streamed in and out of the park wearing "I Voted" stickers and chatting amiably with each other.

Later that night, when the results were coming in and the election was finally called, it felt like a monumental change had occurred. At the time, all I felt was optimism. Since then that optimism has changed to frustration, dread, despair and finally, cynicism.

I can honestly say that in twenty-two years of voting I've never felt less hopeful walking out of the voting booth. Any faith I'd had in the American public that had been restored after the 2008 elections is gone. How can it not be when it seems that the majority of Americans have so quickly turned back to the same party that got us into the economic mess we're in today even though the only solutions they've offered have been the same ones that helped cause that mess? As a nation we we seem to be horribly fickle, ill-informed, and easily misled.

Not very cheerful, nor inspiring. But it's how I feel right now, and I don't see things changing anytime soon. Yeah, I voted, but I've never felt more like it was an exercise in futility than I do today.

Comments

[geniusofevil.livejournal.com]

hear hear. In my state I was left wondering how we'd gotten to the point where people proudly and publically supported open racists who were clearly working against the majority of the base.

I mean, WTF?

[janradder.livejournal.com]

At least Colorado seems to have some semblance of sense left. Here in Minnesota our electorate handed the House and Senate over the the Republicans and the Governor's race is up for an automatic recount because half the people thought it would be a good idea to hand the head office in the state to an even bigger wack-job who has his head even further up his ass than our current GOP bastard-in-chief.

Someone on another blog in the comments section said, ""Have you ever REALLY loved a band but hated all their other fans? Because that's how I feel about this country." It summed up my thoughts on the election exactly.

[geniusofevil.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's a nice way of putting it.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

Ben has pointed out that now the Republicans will be blamed for the economic mess just as it's time to vote for Obama, again, and this might be a really good thing.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

I'd like to hope so, but I just can't see it happening. The Democrats are just too pathetic and wimpy. They'll let the GOP say whatever crap they want and then act so defensive that everyone will think it must be true.

hope (from Ben F.)

[(Anonymous)]

I agree, it's tough. But I guess it's my half-full mentality that makes me glad that the senate didn't fall to the Republicans, and at least here in NY the majority of my local elections stayed with the Democrats (governor and both senators, as well as the representative from my House district). A couple things: 1. independents vote against the party in power. They have done this consistently in the last decade, like a seesaw. So that, and a bad economy, overcame reason. And most likely independents will continue this pattern, so Republicans won't have it any easier the next go-round. 2. we got healthcare, and I think there's a good chance we'll keep it. Obama still has his veto, and the Republicans don't have enough votes to override it. And voters will likely be pissed if too much time is wasted on repeal that doesn't happen. 3. Much good has already been done: the economy has been kept from collapse, the auto industry has been saved, and financial reform was passed. (And for those on the other side of the political spectrum, almost all of us got a tax cut already.) 4. FDR faced big losses in his party, as did Reagan and Clinton. And they were all reelected. I think Obama has a good shot at it, particularly given the level of Republican competition (so far). 5. It's not the end of the world. The measures that have already been taken (financial reform, Fed help, etc.) will continue to help.

People throughout history have had to deal with far, far worse political climates than our current situation (any country that's been through a defeat in a major war, for example). And somehow we persevere. Go with that when you feel the cynicism and despair kick in: we persevere. (I'm giving myself the pep talk here, too, as much as I'm responding to you.)

OK. That's my rose-colored glasses assessment.

Re: hope (from Ben F.)

[janradder.livejournal.com]

You are right on all of these points, and it is helpful to think about them. However, I'm having a hard time believing that voters will behave in a rational or logical manner anymore. And in the past, I think the media did a better job of actually reporting things rather than serving as mouthpieces for interest groups and letting their claims and pronouncements stand unchecked. But then again, I think I've always kind of thought this about the American public.

Re: hope (from Ben F.)

[(Anonymous)]

I agree that the media has fallen asleep at the wheel in a lot of ways. Half the articles I see these days are about articles that someone else wrote. It doesn't seem like "news" to me. And the attempt to balance a piece by having two different opinions has become something of a joke: "and now here's a blithering idiot to present an opposite opinion." It gives weight to things that should be ignored at best, if not outright condemned.

I did want to commend you for voting, though. The race for governor of MN was another one of those razor-thin margins of victory, so your vote really did make a big difference. Hopefully the recount will end up with the winner you want.

One last thought: I honestly did not think I would ever see an African American president in my lifetime. So my own perceptions of the American public were proved wrong, happily, in that instance. I think that was (is) a pretty big deal.

There's a piece in Slate that's kind of uplifting if you need more uplift: http://www.slate.com/id/2273708