That's it. Someone needs to tell you people off, and I'm in the perfect mood to do it today.
I would venture to guess that there are more people in America who "don't follow politics" than people who do. They are many reasons for this. Mainly my guess would be that people just have more pressing concerns; the kids need baths, it's almost dinner time, I'm working 2 jobs to make ends meet, etc. And I get that. Life is busy for all of us.
What I DON'T get are some of the other reasons; American Idol is on, I'm going to Buffalo Wild Wings to get drunk, I need to find out which Kardashian is pregnant now. We are increasingly becoming a nation of grown children, obsessed by our own urge to be constantly entertained. If it's boring, we don't need to do it. We're like little dogs in our ability to be distracted by shiny objects.
And it's infuriating to me.
I know that not everyone enjoys politics. I can appreciate that I find the whole thing more interesting than most. But for the love of God people, this really does affect you!!!!
You seem to be just willfully ignorant about the fact that who represents you in government actually makes a difference in your life. They get to pass laws that govern how you live your life, and you have to deal with it! Don't believe me? Here are a few examples:
1) Was it simply awful to be subjected to the barrage of campaign ads you had to endure while you were trying to watch American Idol? That was made possible by Citizens United, which allowed unlimited amounts of money to be spent in campaigns. Citizens United was brought to you by conservative Supreme Court Justices who were appointed by conservative Presidents. Oh, but you probably don't even know what "conservative" means, do you?
2) Like birth control? Did you ever get any of it from a clinic like Planned Parenthood? Did it keep you from getting pregnant when you didn't want to be? Well clinics like those rely heavily on federal funding, which can be easily pulled by a conservative government. And what's more, they're already trying to pass laws to make it so that your health insurance doesn't have to cover your birth control. Have fun paying full price for those pills every month!
3) Do your kids go to a public school? Are you tired of getting that long list at the beginning of the school year that asks you to pay for everything right down to the kleenex in the classroom? That is because of underfunded schools. You could fix that!!
But you don't. None of you do. You prefer to bitch and moan about what "the government" does, as if you have no control over who is actually IN the government. You are so busy staring at shiny objects that you have NO IDEA what your lawmakers are doing behind your backs.
Yesterday, I lost my state representative. He was the kind of guy that was still idealistic about his job, and actually worked hard for the good of his community. He actually got to know his constituents and took the time to listen to them and help wherever he could. And I don't blame his loss on the Republicans. I blame it squarely on you. People who don't vote because you're too damn lazy and disinterested to take 10 minutes out of your day to go fucking vote already!
And if you don't want to follow politics, America makes it easy for you! We have a two-party system (for now). Pick one and get on board! They even put the name of the party on the ballot in case you have no idea who the candidate is! It's simple!
Have no idea who you even WANT to vote for? Here, take a quiz. This quiz will tell you who to vote for! It's ridiculously easy!!!!!
The apathy is just stunning to me. I can't even wrap my god damned brain around it. We actually live in a country where the common people can choose their leaders, and a majority of them don't even bother!
And as a result, we live in a country where the rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. It's taking more hours at work just to support a family, and I wonder how long it will take for people to get fed up enough to actually want to DO something about it.
I think of all the struggles of the past: unions, abortion, corporate regulation. We're going to have to fight all of those battles all over again, because people have gotten so lazy and complacent that they've just watched all of their rights slowly go away. If all of you people who "don't follow politics" started following it, even just a little, we could change SO MUCH in America. Maybe you wouldn't have to worry about going bankrupt because your kid got sick. Maybe you could afford to take a vacation once in awhile. Maybe you wouldn't have to go back to work six weeks after giving birth. We are all living at the mercy of corporations right now, and most of us don't even realize it. And we do nothing to change it.
I don't even know why I bother some days. Why do I waste my time trying to make things better, when clearly so many people just don't even give a shit? I'm sure I'll get my motivation back eventually, but for now, I need to just stew about the sorry state of the American people for a little while.
Showing posts with label voting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voting. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Monday, November 5, 2012
My Final Plea
I'm not going to bore you with the reasons that I voted "no" to both constitutional amendments in Minnesota (I already voted absentee). Instead, I'm going to implore you to vote no as well by writing this final plea.
The Marriage Amendment
Minnesota is asking voters to add a line to the state constitution that says marriage will be henceforth defined as the union of "one man and one woman." If you're planning to vote yes, then we already disagree on gay marriage, and I probably can't change your mind. But consider this, the rights of the people, any people, should NEVER be voted on by the population at large. This country was founded on the belief that the rights of the minority should be protected from the will of the majority, or "mob rule."
No matter what your stance is on gay marriage, you will have the right to express that view whether or not this amendment passes. Contrary to popular belief, Minnesota is NOT voting on whether or not to legalize gay marriage, unlike the other 3 states voting on this issue. We are simply voting on how illegal it should be. Please realize that if you are against gay marriage, then your viewpoint is most likely informed by your religion, and even though your religion may represent the majority view in America, I go back to my original point: we are not supposed to live under mob rule. Our country is so wonderful because we protect the rights of the minority, not in spite of it.
The Voter ID Amendment
This one is just simple. It's a solution without a problem. Voter fraud, especially "in person" voter fraud, which is the only kind of fraud this amendment would impact, is just not a problem in Minnesota. I have been an election judge here, and I can tell you that our voting system is very safe and sound. And I'm stunned that the conservatives, the very people who decry wasteful spending, would want to spend so much money providing these ID's and implementing the new system.
And if you are saying, "OK, but we need an ID to get on an airplane," I can only respond with, "no one has the 'right' to fly on an airplane, but we all have the right to vote." Not only would this amendment waste a ridiculous amount of taxpayer money in this state, but it would amount to a "poll tax" for many people who would have to pay to get their birth certificate to obtain a "free" ID. Poll taxes are supposed to be illegal, because they keep the poor from voting.
And my final, final plea on both issues.
The constitution is not the place to decide legislative issues. We elect representatives so that they can spend the time learning about these issues and making informed decisions. If they can't do that, and they kick the can to us in the form of constitutional amendments, then they have failed at their job.
So please, please, I'm begging you, do NOT vote "yes" on either of these amendments. Do you want me to beg? I'll beg. Hell, I'll come over and clean your house and babysit your kids so you can have a night out if you'll only vote no. It's that important. These are amendments that will have real consequence for real people. If our lawmakers can't hash out these issue the way they're supposed to, then it's not up to us to do their job for them.
Please, pretty please, VOTE NO!
(I'll throw in some free leftover Halloween candy?)
The Marriage Amendment
Minnesota is asking voters to add a line to the state constitution that says marriage will be henceforth defined as the union of "one man and one woman." If you're planning to vote yes, then we already disagree on gay marriage, and I probably can't change your mind. But consider this, the rights of the people, any people, should NEVER be voted on by the population at large. This country was founded on the belief that the rights of the minority should be protected from the will of the majority, or "mob rule."
No matter what your stance is on gay marriage, you will have the right to express that view whether or not this amendment passes. Contrary to popular belief, Minnesota is NOT voting on whether or not to legalize gay marriage, unlike the other 3 states voting on this issue. We are simply voting on how illegal it should be. Please realize that if you are against gay marriage, then your viewpoint is most likely informed by your religion, and even though your religion may represent the majority view in America, I go back to my original point: we are not supposed to live under mob rule. Our country is so wonderful because we protect the rights of the minority, not in spite of it.
The Voter ID Amendment
This one is just simple. It's a solution without a problem. Voter fraud, especially "in person" voter fraud, which is the only kind of fraud this amendment would impact, is just not a problem in Minnesota. I have been an election judge here, and I can tell you that our voting system is very safe and sound. And I'm stunned that the conservatives, the very people who decry wasteful spending, would want to spend so much money providing these ID's and implementing the new system.
And if you are saying, "OK, but we need an ID to get on an airplane," I can only respond with, "no one has the 'right' to fly on an airplane, but we all have the right to vote." Not only would this amendment waste a ridiculous amount of taxpayer money in this state, but it would amount to a "poll tax" for many people who would have to pay to get their birth certificate to obtain a "free" ID. Poll taxes are supposed to be illegal, because they keep the poor from voting.
And my final, final plea on both issues.
The constitution is not the place to decide legislative issues. We elect representatives so that they can spend the time learning about these issues and making informed decisions. If they can't do that, and they kick the can to us in the form of constitutional amendments, then they have failed at their job.
So please, please, I'm begging you, do NOT vote "yes" on either of these amendments. Do you want me to beg? I'll beg. Hell, I'll come over and clean your house and babysit your kids so you can have a night out if you'll only vote no. It's that important. These are amendments that will have real consequence for real people. If our lawmakers can't hash out these issue the way they're supposed to, then it's not up to us to do their job for them.
Please, pretty please, VOTE NO!
(I'll throw in some free leftover Halloween candy?)
Friday, July 27, 2012
What's Really Wrong with Voter ID?
So, now that you've heard my views on the masses of stupid people voting (see previous post), let me tell you what I actually think about the voter ID laws that are popping up all over the country, including here in Minnesota. I've had friends ask me what's so bad about these laws, because on it's face, voter ID doesn't seem all that unreasonable.
OK, since we can't use my nifty voting quiz to see who should get to vote, why shouldn't we use photo ID cards? Well, for the following reasons:
1. As much as I may sometimes disagree, voting is a right, not a privilege. Therefore, we should be entitled to vote as easily as possible without paying to do so. Have you ever heard of a "poll tax?" That's when you charge certain people money to vote, and that's illegal. Even if you distribute a "free" ID to anyone who may not have a driver's license, those people need to pay to get a birth certificate and/or passport to get that "free" ID, not to mention the transportation time and cost it will take to get those items. Think elderly people and the disabled.
2. Voter fraud is not a problem. Many extensive studies done recently have shown that voter fraud on any kind of large scale is simply not happening in the U.S. If I were a real go-getter, I could post some links for you here to those studies, but I'm too lazy to google it. The reason voter fraud is not a major problem, in my opinion, is that most reasonable people aren't willing to go to federal prison just to cast an illegal vote. I have been an election judge as well as a recount observer, and I can tell you firsthand that we have a very efficient and safe system here in Minnesota. So if it ain't broke, why fix it?
3. It's clearly just a ploy by Republicans to keep low-income people as well as students from voting. Why? Because low-income people and students tend to vote Democratic. The obstacles in the voter ID laws are targeted directly at low-income people via the poll tax issue, and at students, since the laws always state that college-issued student ID's will not count as a valid ID for voting purposes. The point is, if you put obstacles in the way of people who usually vote for your opponent (the Democrat), then you (the Republican) tend to win more, right?
The whole thing is so ridiculous, but it's an idea that will seem completely reasonable by people who already have a driver's license and think "Hmm, this doesn't seem like such a bad idea." And that's why it's so dangerous, and shouldn't be something that's voted on by the general public.
Especially since they don't all have a valid photo ID. :-)
OK, since we can't use my nifty voting quiz to see who should get to vote, why shouldn't we use photo ID cards? Well, for the following reasons:
1. As much as I may sometimes disagree, voting is a right, not a privilege. Therefore, we should be entitled to vote as easily as possible without paying to do so. Have you ever heard of a "poll tax?" That's when you charge certain people money to vote, and that's illegal. Even if you distribute a "free" ID to anyone who may not have a driver's license, those people need to pay to get a birth certificate and/or passport to get that "free" ID, not to mention the transportation time and cost it will take to get those items. Think elderly people and the disabled.
2. Voter fraud is not a problem. Many extensive studies done recently have shown that voter fraud on any kind of large scale is simply not happening in the U.S. If I were a real go-getter, I could post some links for you here to those studies, but I'm too lazy to google it. The reason voter fraud is not a major problem, in my opinion, is that most reasonable people aren't willing to go to federal prison just to cast an illegal vote. I have been an election judge as well as a recount observer, and I can tell you firsthand that we have a very efficient and safe system here in Minnesota. So if it ain't broke, why fix it?
3. It's clearly just a ploy by Republicans to keep low-income people as well as students from voting. Why? Because low-income people and students tend to vote Democratic. The obstacles in the voter ID laws are targeted directly at low-income people via the poll tax issue, and at students, since the laws always state that college-issued student ID's will not count as a valid ID for voting purposes. The point is, if you put obstacles in the way of people who usually vote for your opponent (the Democrat), then you (the Republican) tend to win more, right?
The whole thing is so ridiculous, but it's an idea that will seem completely reasonable by people who already have a driver's license and think "Hmm, this doesn't seem like such a bad idea." And that's why it's so dangerous, and shouldn't be something that's voted on by the general public.
Especially since they don't all have a valid photo ID. :-)
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Democracy Doubts
Like Rush Limbaugh before me, I'm going to say something deeply unpopular. You ready for it? Here it is:
I'm not so sure about this whole "democracy" thing we have going on in the U.S.
There's been a lot of talk about voter suppression laws lately, and it's just not an issue I can get incredibly excited about, because deep down, in a dark place I don't like to talk about, I don't believe that everyone should be voting.
Now, to clarify, I don't think that people should be kept from voting on the basis of race, class, income, party affiliation, or anything like that. I simply think that we should weed out people based on stupidity. If you're stupid, you should not be voting. Simple as that.
"How would we gauge levels of stupidity?" you might be asking. Well, of course the simplest way would be to let me decide on each and every person's ability to vote, but since that would be prohibitively time-consuming, I've devised a quick test that we could administer when people are registering to vote. Here's my draft:
Question 1. What are the 3 branches of government?
a. legislative, bureaucratic & socialistic
b. legislative, executive & judicial
c. maple, oak & pine
d. I thought there were only 2
If you answered a, c, or d, you don't get to vote.
Question 2. Who is the current vice-president of the United States?
a. Barack Obama
b. Dick Cheney
c. Joe Biden
d. Barack Obama is a socialist
If you answered a, b, or d, you don't get to vote.
Question 3. Who is Kim Kardashian currently dating?
a. Kanye West
b. Michael Jordan
c. I don't really give a shit
d. Who is Kim Kardashian?
Unless you answered c or d, you don't get to vote.
Question 4. Please name at least one of your U.S. Senators.
If you can't name at least one, you don't get to vote.
Question 5. Which of the following programs could be correctly defined as "socialist?"
a. the Fire Department
b. the Police Department
c. the local public school
d. Obamacare
If you answered d, you don't get to vote.
We could always throw some essay questions in there just to make it a little more fair, but I think these questions would be a good start. I'm not so concerned about who people are voting for. My concern is that people are voting based on 30 second TV ads and then doing no further research on the issues.
My brother has a theory that our democracy is the very thing that is making our society so collectively stupid. His theory goes that because we have so much freedom, we are free to be lazy, apathetic and uninformed. I think he may be right.
Am I saying we should go to an all-out dictatorship? Not necessarily. That would only work if I were the dictator. But maybe we should invest a little more in public information on government. We are doing a terrible job of teaching basic civics to our children, and it has made us a more divided, divisive society, which makes me fear for our future.
I'm not so sure about this whole "democracy" thing we have going on in the U.S.
There's been a lot of talk about voter suppression laws lately, and it's just not an issue I can get incredibly excited about, because deep down, in a dark place I don't like to talk about, I don't believe that everyone should be voting.
Now, to clarify, I don't think that people should be kept from voting on the basis of race, class, income, party affiliation, or anything like that. I simply think that we should weed out people based on stupidity. If you're stupid, you should not be voting. Simple as that.
"How would we gauge levels of stupidity?" you might be asking. Well, of course the simplest way would be to let me decide on each and every person's ability to vote, but since that would be prohibitively time-consuming, I've devised a quick test that we could administer when people are registering to vote. Here's my draft:
Question 1. What are the 3 branches of government?
a. legislative, bureaucratic & socialistic
b. legislative, executive & judicial
c. maple, oak & pine
d. I thought there were only 2
If you answered a, c, or d, you don't get to vote.
Question 2. Who is the current vice-president of the United States?
a. Barack Obama
b. Dick Cheney
c. Joe Biden
d. Barack Obama is a socialist
If you answered a, b, or d, you don't get to vote.
Question 3. Who is Kim Kardashian currently dating?
a. Kanye West
b. Michael Jordan
c. I don't really give a shit
d. Who is Kim Kardashian?
Unless you answered c or d, you don't get to vote.
Question 4. Please name at least one of your U.S. Senators.
If you can't name at least one, you don't get to vote.
Question 5. Which of the following programs could be correctly defined as "socialist?"
a. the Fire Department
b. the Police Department
c. the local public school
d. Obamacare
If you answered d, you don't get to vote.
We could always throw some essay questions in there just to make it a little more fair, but I think these questions would be a good start. I'm not so concerned about who people are voting for. My concern is that people are voting based on 30 second TV ads and then doing no further research on the issues.
My brother has a theory that our democracy is the very thing that is making our society so collectively stupid. His theory goes that because we have so much freedom, we are free to be lazy, apathetic and uninformed. I think he may be right.
Am I saying we should go to an all-out dictatorship? Not necessarily. That would only work if I were the dictator. But maybe we should invest a little more in public information on government. We are doing a terrible job of teaching basic civics to our children, and it has made us a more divided, divisive society, which makes me fear for our future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)