Okay – I know we’re not supposed to talk politics on this blog. I promise – no party bashing from me! But I want to urge every one of the Scamps who live in the USA to get out and vote tomorrow. Our political process has flaws, of course, but it is still one of our great strengths and one our important privileges. Whenever I cast my vote in any election, I can’t help but think of Thomas Jefferson and all those other visionary guys who had a dream of a democratic system that would make all citizens equal.
I will say that I’m going to be SO happy to see an end to the political ads on television. I swear I have most of them memorized word for word. I heard a statistic about the money that has been spent across our country for TV ads this time around, and it is far, far more than in the last presidential election! My hubby likes to stir things up, and he says we should be like some countries who give every candidate X amount of money for their campaign, and no one can spend any more than that. Hmmm…
One thing that has really been “different” this time is an avalanche of pre-recorded political phone calls. I am not exaggerating when I say we’ve had as many as 25 or 30… and some of them have been from big guns like Rudy Guiliani and Fred Thompson. Ha! Wonder what they would do if I called them and asked for an autograph. 🙂 And by the way – those calls are exempt from the rules about the “Do Not Call List”.
My DH is going to be on the road tomorrow, so the two of us did early voting last Thursday. We stood in line for 40 minutes, and the guy “guarding” the line said they had seen at least 600-700 people at that location during every day of early voting. I hope that means a huge voter turn-out this year.
If you’re not a registered voter and should be, shame on you! Nothing you do as a citizen is any more significant than being part of the process. It’s the only way to make our voices heard and to be a part of the solution to national problems.
So get out and vote tomorrow… and when you press that red button to finalize your choices, remember the heroes who struggled and fought to build a nation and a government by the people, for the people!
Janice
(Feeling all red, white, and blue in a good kind of way!)
I agree that one should get out to vote. It is a right we should not take for granted.
I heard that in Australia they have over 90% of their voting population vote. Of course you do get fined if you don’t vote but hey.. at least one can’t say will I had nothing to do with the process.
I remember taking my boys into the voting booth so they could see how important it is to vote.
I’m slightly annoyed that my eldest didn’t get his act together and register in time to vote this fall.
Thanks for reminding us how important it is to be heard.
Ann M.
I vote every year. It so important. This election has gotten on my last nerve. I told them at work that I might do a happy dance come wednesday when there are no more ads. I come home to at least 5 a day on my home phone. grrr.
LOLOL … okay, okay. It just gets demoralizing to vote when you really don’t like either of the candidates. But there’s some important issues around here this time, so I’ll be there bright and early!
Thanks for the reminder Janice! I completely forgot! And you are RIGHT, it is a right to let our voice heard. And ditto about the commercials. I’ll be joining JudyF in my happy dance coming Wednesday!LOL
Yes, it’s very important that we vote. I just got my corrected voter’s registration card today, telling my the location to vote – not too far from home. Can’t ask for anything easier. Just gotta do it.
I will be so glad to see an end to all of the political ads. Some of them are so nasty. I have been taping TV shows, or watching a Canadian station out of Ottawa, just to avoid listening to them.
Ah, good to hear from my fellow voters. Maybe we can all do a happy dance on Wednesday! No more ads! I can hear the chant now!!
SpyScribbler, you made me laugh. I know I sounded like a nagging mama… and I know what you mean about not liking either candidate in some races. But we have to hang tough and believe that our opinions matter!!
Janice
Ann – I didn’t know that about Australia. Nice system if you ask me!
I plan on voting. We still use paper voting, I’ve never voted on a machine. LOL Just a question, do you vote for the party or for the person? I vote for the person.
Pam G
We vote by mail here in Washington state. Mine was mailed out Saturday, so I’ve done my duty. I don’t really care who wins or loses, but it is my civic duty to vote.
I’m going to vote tomorrow as well. We have some important issues on the ballot tomorrow dealing with parental notification. I will be so glad to not get any more political calls. I’ve gotten tons this election, as well as the last election. But, I did get to “talk” to Clint Eastwood and Rudy Guiliani! (Until I hung up the phone after 20 seconds!)
Janice, I never miss an election, but this time around I’m tempted to vote against every politician who sent me repeat idiotic electronic phone calls.
It’s rude, intrusive, and STILL the stupid phone calls don’t give us any good information. You practically have to research each person online to get to the gist of their campaign, because you can’t go by the bashing they do of each other.
UGH. I’m with you- I’ll be glad when it’s over.
And isn’t that a shame?
Lori
Well said Janice!
I did the early vote thing last Friday, and only had to stand in line about 25 minutes. Not too bad and since it’s pouring rain here today, I’m doubly glad to have it out of the way. Our whole family is so tired of the calls, commercials, and mailouts. One of the guys running for house rep is a member of our church, and he apologizes and finally pulled his bashing ads – he was even sick of them!
yes will do and feel great
Was there bright and early, as promised. Now I want to move, just so I don’t have to vote there again.
Our country has issues with voting privacy, equality, and technique that definitely need to be addressed. Usually I feel somewhat patriotic on election day. Today, I feel angrier than I’ve felt in a long time.
I voted, it counted. I guess, in the end, it’s all the same. Still, makes me wonder why two people before me were asking for new ballots.
Oh, SpyScribbler – it makes me mad when I hear about voting junk like that. I hope you don’t have to vote in that location again! Another friend on Lori’s bookjunky loop said she had to wait 2 and a half hours… no problems, just not enough machines.
Our television here reported some weird recorded phone calls that told people they wuld be arrested if they voted. Don’t know what that was about! I’m afraid they sometimes target the elderly who don’t understnad all that’s going on.
Thanks to all of you who exercised your right to vote.
Janice
Pam G – I do vote across party lines sometimes if I have a particular repsect for the integrity of one candidate over the other.
Janice