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

[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.