"I believe voting is part of a deep responsibility I have to make this country better. Every right and liberty I enjoy has been voted into law. Now those of us who have those rights must vote in the interest of others. The world I want to live in isn't reflected in our government officials and that needs to change. That's why I'm voting." - Megan Rapinoe
The picture above is me voting for a black man for President in 2008. Oh what a day! I look at it every year before I go to the polls to remind myself that I wasn’t dealing in reality back then. And, that knowing what is going on beneath the surface for others around you is the only way to feel sure footed about what is to come.
I haven’t watched television in months. Mika and Joe? What did they ever do to earn the voice they became in my head for years? Even my dearest friend, Rachel Maddow, who I think is smarter than most, is not on my radar, except when she tweets. I get my news from people I trust on Twitter in factual tweets (or so my research ascertains) that leave the interpretation of what those facts up to me. It’s a little more work, but I feel safer that the girl in the picture voting in 2008 is not a fool moving forward. I wasn’t going to watch last night either. Went to bed early. Woke up at 11 PM and turned on MSNBC because I’m human.
They were so excited. I got excited. They were almost giddy with the returns that were not as bad as they anticipated. “It’s a win for the Dems.” I felt wonderful - wide awake with positivity. I also felt disquieted. I saw in a hazy way that they had set the stage for a #RedWave, which was their assessment and they were looking at it from what might have been, not what is. When will we learn? Lambs to the slaughter.
I also realized, in a way that being away from television allowed me to see clearly, that I was mirroring the pundit’s point of view. I wasn’t evaluating myself the news they were presenting. They were interpreting those facts, and frankly, they suck. I am better qualified to evaluate what I think then they are and I must take the time to do it myself. I turned off the TV.
Here are just a few of the takeaways as I see them, plain and simple, in black and white. As it appears to me. Not to be confused with any other American.
Very possibly the Dems will lose the House and the Senate, and that is not, in my opinion, good for my country. Why are we celebrating? Even with the RoeVWade Supreme Court ruling almost half the country is not worried about becoming the possible new reality show, American Handmaids Tale? They are still voting for those that would take away our rights if given the chance?
Almost half the country believes truths I think are lies, vote as if they are racist, anti-Semitic people who have no interest in making equality or gun control or climate control things that matter in their life.
Some bad humans ran for office. And came close to winning. Or won. It’s possible that almost half the country doesn’t care what kind of person you are, they care about what you will do for their quality of life - especially financially.
There is no such thing as accurate polls anymore. I don’t know why that is, but truth be told I think there are too many demographics to get them right. Too many silos of people who vote for one issue or another. And in each poll some o those silos is missing, so results become compromised. Polls should no longer exist IMO.
Americans didn’t vote straight tickets in larger numbers than ever before. The beginning of the demise of a two party system? To keep on my radar.
Trump is not an issue unless the red GOP continues to elevate his power with their support.
I could go on - but you get the picture. My assessment is about a larger picture and a realization that even with momentous things happening, almost half the country will vote against their own best interests. The fact that the GOP announced the possibility of getting rid of Medicare and Social Security did not stop those who would be affected most from that action from voting for them. It boggles my mind.
My summation?
Nothing great happened last night my friends. But that doesn’t mean great things can’t happen, and I will address that later, as I formulate my grand scheme plan for myself and how to approach my political participation moving forward. .
And, what is your assessment? Would love to hear.
God Bless America.
It's amazing how politics have changed. I can say one thing for sure. I am very hopeful about the Gen Z folks coming into the political mix as voters. Being the mother of 2 of them, who aren't necessarily hardcore political junkies. They've lived through the fear of school shootings, they are entitled (at least mine are - sorry !) and therefore believe in human rights for all and just can't figure out why some people think it's their business to tell them what they can and cannot do with their lives. After all, no one tells those people! And I think many of the Gen Zs listen, think and act. No one deserves their vote, they must earn it.