Bah, Politics

[evilhippo]

Every quote in this article makes me hate both Kerry and Bush more than I already did. Goshdarnit, why am I not Canadian? Or British? Or... I don't know... from someplace else. It makes me resent the fact that my vote really doesn't make that much difference. Espcially since at this point I am more likely to vote for Nader, since I think I'd dislike Kerry about as much as I dislike Bush. That's probably because I'm so against the militaristic stuff in general, though. Ugh.

Comments

Nader if you must, but vote.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh PLEASE don't say things like that.
I know how you feel, really I do. Disillusionment comes far too easily in a place where the "news" consists of extremists yelling at each other and the "if it bleeds, it leads" mentality. Especially when the candidates are two white men with rich families and elite upbringings. Even Ralph fits at least part of that description.
And when you've got Bio and Hum and Calc to worry about, the political system seems awfully far away.
Sure you have one vote. Out of 203 million. But only 130 million of those 203 are registered. And only 111 million of them voted in 2000. That's still a big bucket, but your drop counts when you think of all the cities and counties and even states (just look at Florida and New Hampshire) that fill it up.
The reason we think our votes don't count is that we have bought into the bread and circuses - the prescription drug benefits and reality tv. We have allowed a small group of people to relieve us of our responsibility to be informed and active in our communities in exchange for less stress and less worry. It seems like a good idea. There's a lot for us to keep track of without taking a stand on whether steel tariffs are a good idea.
But because of that, the small group has stopped listening to the big one, and now operates in a vacuum. Individuals in the big group have to make their voices loud again - loud enough to pierce through that shell. We have to inform ourselves so that we can legitimately question the status quo. That's presumably why you're at the U of C, because you value that kind of involvement in knowledge. On February 15th last year there was a glimmer of what is possible. When thousands of people marched against a war in Iraq, it affected the president enough for him to publicly recognize our voices. And in doing so, he displayed the full measure of his administration's arrogance and ignorance.
So I voted for Nader in 2000. I thought he had something to add to the conversation. His claims were legitimate that the two party system needed a shake-up. I was also registered in Texas and I figured a vote for him would maximize my voice in that situation.
You may well be in a similar position. That's fine, I say. If you believe in his platform, speak with your vote and add to his percent - he may get federal funding for the next round. But do not silence yourself. If you do, you are simply surrendering to your frustration. Would you allow yourself to do that in any other area of your life?
Bottom line: if you're going to express your dissatisfaction, you have to back yourself up with action.
-Caroline '01