“The most important political office is that of the private citizen.”
It’s dismal. It rained during the night and the day is dark, damp and cold. Tonight will be in the 30’s, and it won’t get much better the rest of the week. I’m hoping for some sun later. I abide cold better when there is a bit of sun. It makes me feel a little optimistic even wearing layers.
It’s election day. Finally the obtrusive phone calls and obnoxious TV ads will end. The local news last night reported phone outages, some for several hours. It seems all those auto-ads swamped the system and shut it down. I believe differently. I think it was the intervention of a mighty hand, a sort of election day burning bush sending a warning.
I like to vote. It may be only one vote, but I believe I make a difference. I haven’t ever missed voting. It is, in my mind, the responsibility of all citizens to exercise their franchise. Some people rely on the argument there isn’t a candidate who deserves their vote as a defense for their absence at the polls. I don’t buy it. Local questions are on the ballot and walking behind the curtain just to check yes or no for those still counts.
My town still uses black pens for voting, no fancy machines here. Old ladies, always the same old ladies, check you in and check you out. They chit chat and ask me I’m doing while they look up my street to check off my name. It never takes me long to vote. When I walk in the booth, I already know which candidates and which questions deserve my yeses. This election is a tough one.
I bought a car, a red Camry. I’m picking it up this afternoon. I’ve never had a red car. All my others were blue or gray or black. When I saw this car, I fell in love even though I know red cars attract police officers holding ticket books, and I, on highways, am always a good candidate for a speeding ticket. That I haven’t ever had one is a miracle. I hope my luck will still hold.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: Burning bush, Election Day, voting
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November 2, 2010 at 11:48 am
Hi Kat,
Since 1989 I have only owned red jeep wranglers and have not, so far, attracted a single police officer. There are so many red cars on the road nowadays that they don’t stick out like a sore thumb any more. It’s possible that metallic bright green is the new red.
My father used to tell me that if I was going to speed, I should always be in front of the pod of cars and never at the back because the police officer is always going to grab the one at the back of the pod. This is probably not true but I try to adhere to it anyway.
Congratulations on the new car and may it always start when you want it to.
November 2, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Hi Caryn,
You’re right abut the red cars. I checked them all out as I was driving home.
I always thought the middle was the safest place. I figured the fast car would get noticed, and I’d be the slower car. I’m not so sure it’s all that rational, but I’ve always been in the pack.
Thanks on the car-it was great driving it home.
November 2, 2010 at 1:51 pm
I always gets surprised when I hear how few that actually votes in the US! An election here that only have around 79% voters is seen as a disaster. But we do have a different election system over here, we vote firstly for the party and then we can mark one person especially.
We almost never have any local questions to vote about. If we should have a referendum about something and it would be on the election day the politicians has to follow the result. If we have a referendum any other day it´s just looked upon as something that shows what the people wants, the result isn´t binding at all then?!
Windy and rainy here today, but it doesn´t matter because it´s already so dark that I can´t see anything outside 🙂
Have a great day now!
Christer.
November 2, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Christer,
I always get angry at the numbers who don’t vote. These off year elections, when the president isn’t running, usually have small numbers but i don’t think it will this year. People are still hot and heavy about the economy.
We have both binding and nonbinding referendums. The local questions usually have to do with school monies or funds for town building. The questions today were all state wide issues.
It was raw and cold all day long.
November 2, 2010 at 3:02 pm
you’ll need some new bumperstickers!
November 2, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Ha, Greg, that’s exactly what I thought, and I had some great ones.
November 2, 2010 at 3:27 pm
So you bought a little fire engine. I thought those Toyota’s had stuck accelerator problems. Did you ask about those recalls? I had a couple getting divorced and they couldn’t split the family car so she got him to buy her a new one. He told the salesman he wanted a Toyota but only one where the accelerator stuck. No good. I didn’t think it funny either. Anyway, enjoy your new car; glad you voted, so did I; and there is no excuse not to vote. I’m just hoping the Tea Baggers get the message tonight. If I’m wrong, we’re all in for a long do nothing ride.
November 2, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Z&Me,
I’m afraid we may be in for a long hard ride. People are still angry.
The Toyota is just fine-no acceleration problems. I was reassured. This is the 4th car I’ve bought there, and they always treat me well.
November 2, 2010 at 7:33 pm
I have driven a red Honda Accord Coupe since it was new in October 1999. I have not attracted any police cars. Of course, I drive very conservatively and carefully.
Ask anyone who has immigrated to the U.S. from a totalitarian country which either does not hold elections or who hold sham elections. Those folks vote religiously as soon as they become citizens.
November 2, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Bob,
I have a bit of a heavy foot on highways but I’m conservative around here. I just don’t get not voting.
November 2, 2010 at 7:57 pm
well, it’s voting time again.Here in Australia we have compulsory voting so there is usually a 95% turnout, which makes us sound like a despotic African state. However, our last election was so close that we have a hung parliament where the balance of power is held by the non-aligned parties.Let us hope that common sense (whatever that is) prevails and that you have a safe voting day and someone, someone wins
November 2, 2010 at 8:05 pm
sblake,
This election scares me. I figure the incumbents are going to be blamed for the financial crisis which is only changing for the better ever so slowly. People expect a quick fix, and it won’t be coming so they’ll vote candidates from the tea party or its ilk. I expect a shift in power.