September
2000
Casting
a Shaky Vote…
Because I grew up in a very typical Democratic Chicago neighborhood, I have an active interest in politics.
On
Election Day it was not unusual for our Precinct Captain to ring your doorbell
and ask if everyone in the house had voted yet.
If they had, he’d recommend that they go again.
My
father always taught me that voting was a privilege that shouldn’t be taken
lightly. I was always very engrossed in the drama of elections and
politics. I would often listen in
on my pop’s conversations at family functions or friends parties and they were
always so much more interesting than listening to my mom talk about the PTA.
Inevitably, discussions over what old Mayor Daley and the council were up
too led to arguments and stories of the good old days.
The idea that people who were family, friends or neighbors could disagree
so vehemently about issues intrigued me. Then
when it was time to say goodbye, all the cross words were forgotten and
everybody was a friend again. I
wanted “in” on those conversations and couldn’t wait for the day when I
would be included.
When
I was 18 and cast my first vote, it was a major milestone in my life.
I finally felt like I was an adult.
In the years to follow, I found myself working and volunteering on
various campaigns, mostly for the current Mayor Daley.
I loved the excitement and atmosphere of the offices.
One
of my most favorite things to do is argue politics - especially with a
Republican. My favorite Uncle and I
couldn’t be more different, He’s a Republican; I’m mostly a Democrat.
He’s an avid hunter; I’m opposed to hunting as a sport.
He loves Rush Limbaugh; I love Al Franken or anyone else that makes fun
of Rush. He’s a middle-aged white
man; I’m a chick. Regardless, we
agree on one thing - we agree to disagree.
We share a rare quality in that we both feel that it is our fundamental
right not only to believe in what you think, but also to express it to others -
usually quite loudly.
Though almost everything we discuss is a totally opposing view, we hear
each other out and listen. It
also goes to say that we both (buried deep down in side) carry the hope that
maybe someday we’ll turn the other one around!
Debate
about topics is what keeps peoples minds alive.
I can’t imagine anything more fun than going around the block with
someone that disagrees with you. The
banter that usually accompanies those conversations is something movie-scripts
never quite seem to capture.
So
here we are in the year 2000. I’m
in a major dilemma; I don’t know who to vote for in the upcoming Presidential
election. I certainly don’t want to vote for George Bush, but I’m
not too hip on Gore either. YIKES!!
What to do?
Chances are I’ll probably vote for the party that I feel is better – not the person. But which one?
It just stands to reason that as in most aspects of my life, I’m also a contradiction in terms regarding politics as well. I consider myself a democrat, but I also hold some very conservative values as well.
I
firmly believe in the death penalty and on that note only, think that Bush has
done a good job in Texas. Since
he’s been in office, he’s executed most of the long-standing convicts on
death row. I think that one of the major problems in this country
is that criminals are not afraid of repeat crimes because of the lack of a good
justice system. What kind of system
do we have that jails simple pot smokers and lets rapists and murderers go? At
least in Texas, if you kill someone you can be 90% sure that if you’re caught,
you’ll die too.
I
say an eye for an eye except in the case of self-defense.
I don’t think that those that kill to save themselves deserve to die
and their jail term should depend on the circumstances.
So
if the death penalty is my conservative side, my liberal side is much greater.
I’m
completely pro-choice and there’s no question in my mind that a woman should
have the right to choose what happens to her own body.
I myself don’t believe I could ever have an abortion, but I could and
would never take that decision away from anyone else.
I also believe that we as a society should help the underprivileged with
a welfare system. I realize that
the system we currently have is abused more times than not, but I think that the
good that it provides far outweighs the few bad seeds.
I also feel that everyone is created equal and equal pay for equal work
should be mandatory. Minimum wage
should also be lifted to $10 per hour. It
sickens me that there are entire families living on less than $6 per hour.
These
are some of the kinds of topics that divide the parties - Death Penalty;
Abortion; Welfare. In this
election, these issues are coming up, but in a more subdued way than in the
past. Healthcare Reform is another election tactic that both
candidates are using quite frequently. However,
I don’t think that either of them can really promise to change anything there.
Big business runs everything and to assume that the government can take
control over that is ridiculous.
I
think the problem with this upcoming election is boiled down to the old cliché
– “The lesser of two evils”.
But
which one is less evil?
I
think that Al Gore made a smart move in choosing his running mate.
Joe Lieberman is the only major
asset I think that the Democratic Party has right now.
He’s there trump card. He
brings a conservative value, with a liberal heart to the table.
His moralistic judgment is a welcome after Clinton’s problems in office
and those views compliment the way I think Al Gore feels. I actually think that
he can & will have a stronger influence on the American public than Gore.
I
think Gore is a good man, I just don’t think he’s strong enough to lead us.
Clinton was a bit of a scumbag and he was a terrible embarrassment to
both his wife & his country, but he was a strong leader.
When he spoke, people listened – even if it was to hear him defend
himself. His charisma and the clever use of his aides and speechwriters got him
far.
Bush
has the determination and the money to be a President, but I don’t think he
has the brains. He only seems to
know what his writers tell him. I’m
not saying other politicians are much smarter, but at least they’re better
bullshitters. Look at Clinton, even
when you knew he was flat out lying, he still spoke with such force that you
actually found yourself falling for it. What
Bush has is a party that can and will pay to try and put him in office.
So
sadly, my decision has been made not on which actual candidate I feel is
better qualified, it’s actually on a running mate.
So
I’ll probably go with Gore, but only because of Lieberman.
I wish my Pops was still alive. I need some good old-fashioned political advice and he’s the only one I’d ever trust. But I think even he'd be having a hard time with this one.