Mid-Term Apathy

I know I've told this story before in EE, but bear with me for a moment while I repeat it and turn it around to a new topic...

When I was a kid growing up, my great uncle was a big union guy. He was also a staunch member of his political party. One of the several bumper stickers on his Ford pick up was a blatant, direct and, to me, undeniably true statement:

If you don't vote, don't bitch.

I mean, so true! I even used to get hacked off in my 30s when a convo would turn political and I knew the fervor of the "contestants" was negated by the fact they didn't vote. Really? You'll get that heated over something for argument's sake, but you can't even get it together to get registered and go to the polling place? One question: Why should I put any stock in this person's opinion? I shouldn't. And frankly, I still feel this way.

We're in the craziness of the mid-term elections. Personally, I see more voting interest than at any other point in my 35 years on this planet. That's a good thing.

Just by happenstance, I was listening to an interview with George Carlin before his death a couple years back. Carlin has always been known for being outspoken on political issues, yet he also admits he didn't vote for the last 30 or so years of his life. To this I say...beg pardon?

Carlin's take was interesting, but, to be blunt, cowardly. His notion was that if he voted for a candidate, he didn't have the right to comment on that candidate. He felt he took on more of an objective commentary by NOT being involved with the political process. In essence, he held up a mirror to my great uncle's bumper sticker: If you're going to bitch, don't vote.

Interesting position? Yes. Completely wrong and backwards? Also yes.

Look, we're Americans. We have the right to elect our officials. Forget all the conspiracy nonsense-we get to put the people in power that we want. How many other places get to do that? Tain't too many, that's for sure. For this very privledge, I don't take voting lightly. Any time there's an election, mid-term or otherwise, I want to cast my vote. Not because I want to be able to bitch, but to do my part as an American. I hope you will, too.