Voter Anxiety
I apologize if this comes off as a rambling, worriesome post. But after some extensive googling I can’t find any other voters on the web who seem to feel just how I feel. So I thought I would write a post, and maybe if some other person like me (does that exist?) is out there googling, they’ll find the Farful Report.
I have been a firm Obama supporter, but recently after a heated argument with my friend Jeff, a very intelligent and rather angry person, I have begun to have second feelings. Of course, during the argument I refused to be persuaded, if only to have Jeff keep going and explain to me further his opinion. But now it has begun to sink in, and it is causing major anxiety for me around the upcoming election.
The major point of contention between Jeff and I came down to whether or not it is a waste of a vote to write in someone I really, truly believe in (Dennis Kucinich), rather than vote comparatively. What I mean is, I’m getting sick of voting for someone just because I don’t like the other guy (or gal). On the other hand, I am afraid of writing in someone, because it may sound like (or feel like) I’m casting a vote for McCain.
Now, there are many things I truly love about Obama. I like his tax plan (I’m a big fan of Robin Hood, so go ahead and call him a socialist); I like the way he has surrounded himself with people who have areas of expertise which he lacks, unlike Scary Palin who claims she’ll just pick it up as she goes along. And more than anything else, I’m just relieved to see someone who is articulate, intelligent and not overtly sinister or hateful. John and Sarah have saturated themselves with sarcasm and “down-homeishness”, which are fake and despicable ways to present yourself, particularly when running for the most important position in the US and maybe the world.
But here is the bottom line: Barack Obama supported the economic bailout. I have been able to write off other things, like his anti-gay statements (not supporting equality on every level is anti-gay), as a way of catering to the voters in order to get elected. I understand that this is a depressing but necessary part of the political game. But supporting the bailout was not a way to garner more votes. Most Americans were opposed to the bailout (myself included). So why did he support it? And why has no one, Obama included, told us why the bailout was more beneficial than pumping 73 Billion dollars into the lower end of the economy, like getting more people better education and better health care so that they can feel safe enough to support the economy. Wouldn’t that have also saved us from collapse (which probably wouldn’t have happened anyway), and helped us Joe Sixpacks rather than those paragliding CEOs?
How can I support a candidate, write his name under mine, who voted for such a disgusting and unusual scam, with almost no explanation? At the time of the bailout, I was shocked to be on the side of the Republicans, though I think we were on the same side for different reasons. But Kucinich was also on my side. And this is America, Goddamnit. Aren’t I supposed to vote for the person I think would make the best President?
It is quite the dilemma. Do I vote for Barack, and know that if he does something like this bailout during his presidency my name will be on it? Or do I vote for Kucinich and know that if McCain wins, which is disastrous but unlikely, that I will be partially responsible? What is an American to do? Move to Peru I guess…
UPDATE:
This morning I woke up still feeling discouraged. After some intense stumbling around on the internet, I came upon this website where people can call in an leave voice messages telling who they are voting for and why. I had them sort it by people who are voting for a 3rd party, and a man’s voice came across from Tennessee who seemed to be feeling the same way I was. He wanted to vote for someone he really cared for, but he didn’t want to waste his vote. He then told me to wikipedia preferential voting, which I did promptly. It turns out there is some sort of a ballot system where you can write in who you truly want to win, but if that person doesn’t get enough votes than your vote is shifted down to the next realistic candidate (BARACK!). So I could be at once voicing my dissent against Barack’s choice with the bailout and voting for the real man, Dennis K., while I simultaneously would not be throwing away my vote and thus voting for John McCain. GENIUS! If only Maine had this system.
You can hear my voice under third party, it was posted from Massachusetts (617 area code) at 9:33 am according the the website. It’s also funny to listen to the John McCain ones because it’s mostly people spoofing John McCain voters. Nice.
