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For my American friends and readers, tomorrow is the election and I'd like to implore you all to make sure to vote, regardless of political leanings or inclinations. Even if you live in a state where you feel it doesn't matter, the price of democracy is an engaged and educated electorate, and those people ultimately define the trend of a nation towards electing worthy, qualified candidates and removing opportunitistic scoundrals and party toadies who's only interest is their own self-gratification. If you haven't yet, take a half hour tonight, research the races in your area from the top to the bottom of the ticket, and make your vote tomorrow. No matter what you think, regardless of the country you live in, it always matters.
Building on that, if you believe that the United States needs a bipartisan issue to help heal some of the divide between parties, once again, embrace electoral reform. The current mishmash of state approaches which is currently being undermined under the false spector of voter fraud to accomplish the very real problem of voter suppression is appalling to see in a country that billed itself as a 'bastion of democracy'. Individual voter fraud is so rare that it's considering to be statistically non-existant as a factor on the election. Instead of truckloads of poorly trained partisan yahoos jamming up polling stations asking for non-required IDs and notes from their voter's mother, efforts should be directed into ensuring that every voter of every stripe as reasonable time, access and security of results in order to cast their vote. Every vote needs to be counted, and every voter needs to believe that once they cast their ballot, that vote will show up. If that isn't the case, it's not a democracy; it's a gerrymandered rigged game that is as corrupt as any ballot box stuffing Central American 'democracy'. If you want to believe America is exceptional, it's time to demand it ensures the most basic building block of a free society is treated with the upmost respect.
Finally, make sure you understand what you're voting for. With the President comes the administration, the alliances made to allow them to be elected, and the chance to reshape the country through possibly multiple Supreme Court justices. The convictions of the men at the top of the ticket will not be implemented by fiat when they are sworn in. Obama will still seek a Grand Bargin of cuts with a GOP controlled House. Romney will implement the Ryan Plan as his budget blueprint and repeal most of Obamacare, because that was the cost for the nomination. Your local Congressperson might be one of the middle of the road types of the opposite party most of the time, but consider what votes they will line up with the rank and file on. Make sure you think about all the consequences and then cast your ballot.
Building on that, if you believe that the United States needs a bipartisan issue to help heal some of the divide between parties, once again, embrace electoral reform. The current mishmash of state approaches which is currently being undermined under the false spector of voter fraud to accomplish the very real problem of voter suppression is appalling to see in a country that billed itself as a 'bastion of democracy'. Individual voter fraud is so rare that it's considering to be statistically non-existant as a factor on the election. Instead of truckloads of poorly trained partisan yahoos jamming up polling stations asking for non-required IDs and notes from their voter's mother, efforts should be directed into ensuring that every voter of every stripe as reasonable time, access and security of results in order to cast their vote. Every vote needs to be counted, and every voter needs to believe that once they cast their ballot, that vote will show up. If that isn't the case, it's not a democracy; it's a gerrymandered rigged game that is as corrupt as any ballot box stuffing Central American 'democracy'. If you want to believe America is exceptional, it's time to demand it ensures the most basic building block of a free society is treated with the upmost respect.
Finally, make sure you understand what you're voting for. With the President comes the administration, the alliances made to allow them to be elected, and the chance to reshape the country through possibly multiple Supreme Court justices. The convictions of the men at the top of the ticket will not be implemented by fiat when they are sworn in. Obama will still seek a Grand Bargin of cuts with a GOP controlled House. Romney will implement the Ryan Plan as his budget blueprint and repeal most of Obamacare, because that was the cost for the nomination. Your local Congressperson might be one of the middle of the road types of the opposite party most of the time, but consider what votes they will line up with the rank and file on. Make sure you think about all the consequences and then cast your ballot.
