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Nov. 4th, 2008 08:24 am
Today's political PSA
Y'all are being bombarded by VOTEOMG demands everywhere today, so I apologize for adding to the pile.
However, I do have a special request for all of my West Coast peeps wrt this:
Even if early returns/polls out of the East show a decisive result for the top of the ticket,
GO VOTE ANYWAY.
There is more to this election than Obama and McCain. There are hundreds of down-ticket candidates and measures that need your attention--some of them quite critical and running neck-and-neck in the polls. California's prop 8, for instance, which would amend the state constitution to make same-sex marriage illegal, or our governor race here in Washington.
We're in an exciting election year, but don't get so wrapped up in the big stuff that you forget that the little stuff matters, too.
---
I know some people are unhappy with the two main choices we have for President, and may be inclined to sit out the election because of that. But one has to remember that those candidates don't just spring up out of the ground. Aside from wild cards like Ross Perot, virtually all of the high-profile presidential candidates started out in local politics.
Which means that if you want a better quality of candidate on the national level, you have to work to elect those candidates on a local and state level, first. And that goes for third-party candidates, too. It's kind of annoying, IMHO, how so few of the third parties have bothered growing their candidates at the local level before springing them for president. If they were really serious about their party's goals, they'd work on gaining local races first.
This does mean you have to work a bit. You need to learn about all of the candidates and measures on your ballot before you go vote. Yes, even the judges and the water district supervisors. A bunch of our national politicians started out with those small roles. It may be annoying to have to do the research now, but the payoff down the road is significant.
So don't be short-sighted and selfish when you vote. Make sure you understand your local races, and think about the effect on the next generation when those candidates may be up for more powerful offices.
Thanks for voting. Democracy only works when we all participate fully.
However, I do have a special request for all of my West Coast peeps wrt this:
Even if early returns/polls out of the East show a decisive result for the top of the ticket,
GO VOTE ANYWAY.
There is more to this election than Obama and McCain. There are hundreds of down-ticket candidates and measures that need your attention--some of them quite critical and running neck-and-neck in the polls. California's prop 8, for instance, which would amend the state constitution to make same-sex marriage illegal, or our governor race here in Washington.
We're in an exciting election year, but don't get so wrapped up in the big stuff that you forget that the little stuff matters, too.
---
I know some people are unhappy with the two main choices we have for President, and may be inclined to sit out the election because of that. But one has to remember that those candidates don't just spring up out of the ground. Aside from wild cards like Ross Perot, virtually all of the high-profile presidential candidates started out in local politics.
Which means that if you want a better quality of candidate on the national level, you have to work to elect those candidates on a local and state level, first. And that goes for third-party candidates, too. It's kind of annoying, IMHO, how so few of the third parties have bothered growing their candidates at the local level before springing them for president. If they were really serious about their party's goals, they'd work on gaining local races first.
This does mean you have to work a bit. You need to learn about all of the candidates and measures on your ballot before you go vote. Yes, even the judges and the water district supervisors. A bunch of our national politicians started out with those small roles. It may be annoying to have to do the research now, but the payoff down the road is significant.
So don't be short-sighted and selfish when you vote. Make sure you understand your local races, and think about the effect on the next generation when those candidates may be up for more powerful offices.
Thanks for voting. Democracy only works when we all participate fully.
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