Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Make Your Vote Count...

...I'm not one much for politics - never really have been. I tend to get most of my political 'news' from the Daily Show and The Colbert Report. And I'm not saying it's not something to take seriously...it's just never been my cup of tea.

But I've spent many an hour talking with (well, mostly listening to) those that do. And it can be pretty intense. Like the topic of religion or faith, politics can take people over...make them rabid crazy committed so to speak, to 'their team'. And just dare to disagree, or suggest looking at it from the other side...well, it can lead to an earful. Much like sports fans, I suppose. There that same kind of overwhelming passion and fervor exists - be it blind or justified. And I find "Go Leafs Go" can have the same kind of ring to it as "Four More Years" or "Praise The Lord".

As a general rule, I tend to try to avoid those kind of people. I'm suppose I'm just not that passionate or committed to any of those areas of interest to want to get into the ring all the time...because that's what it's like - getting into the ring. That said, I've also been envious of those with that wildly enthusiastic conviction or belief in something - like I'm missing out on an exciting part of the life experience. Who knows.

Anyway, watch Keith Olbermann from MSNBC and his most recent commentary. I'm a Canadian but was born in the United States., and so do tend to pay at least as much attention to the dealings south of the border. Yes Olbermann's anti-Bush but he's just so damn deliberate and precise and for the most part 'correct', I find him a real pleasure to listen to.


Mid-term elections are taking place in the U.S. today...and if you can vote, try to do so. For all my apparent indifference, I do vote...stick my ballot in the box with some care and attention. Your one vote may seem insignificant, but it doesn't cost you anything, and hopefully you'll feel good about participating - which ever team you're supporting.

And that's about as political as I get.

11 comments:

Crashdummie said...

“The body politic, as well as the human body, begins to die as soon as it is born, and carries itself the causes of its destruction.” /Jean-Jacques Rousseau

I’m not political at all, to much bureaucracy & hypocrisy, but you gotto make a statement & actively take interest in things that will effect you and your loved ones. By voting and being involved, you’re not standing on the pavement seeing life swoosh by, you are behind the wheels… (or a passenger on a big buss… d’oh).

Anonymous said...

Sundays for Canada!!

wcdixon said...

Jutratest...lol

Had to re and reread your comment a few times - too early in the AM

English Dave said...

Wow, that clip is conviction politics at it's best.

I'm pretty apolitical also. But I know when I'm being gipped. And I've been gipped over Iraq.

I had faith in the report to the British parliament that stated categorically that Iraq had WMD and could attack the West at 45 minutes notice. I had faith for the simple reason that I trusted that Government to have a fiduciary duty to the electorate not to enter a war unless there really was no alternative.

It has become clear to me that the WMD issue was simply a way of ignoring that duty and presenting the best possible case for war.

I don't mean to get involved in US politics. The Brits didn't have to go to war just because the Americans did. And if the cause seemed just I'd be in their 100% as the Americans were for us in two world wars. [And of course the extreme heroism and sacrifice shown by Canadians, don't think that isn't remembered]It's just that in this case I feel sullied.

ME said...

If you don't vote, you can't bitch. It amazes me the apathy.

We are actually having a civic election next week, and the voter turnout is even lower than in other elections. They are actually floating an idea to start a lottery in conjunction with voting .. if you cast a ballot, you are eligible for a million dollar prize.

Sad.

Maybe we should do like other countries and fine or jail people who don't exercise their vote.

Riddley Walker said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Riddley Walker said...

Oh, here I go...

Though war is the ultimate insanity perpetrated by one "nation" upon another (anybody recall actually being personally asked whether we wanted to go to war in Iraq?) and it is colouring the issues over which the current "Midtacular" is being fought, there are still things external to this that are fundamentally flawed with the Bush administration.

Keith Olbermann (and Colbert and Stewart) does a fine job outlining Iraq-related issues as well as highlighting those of domestic policy, in which civil liberty infringements and McCarthyism seem to be sneaking in through the back door.

In a similar fashion to the UK, where we have a general public astonishingly credulous of the clumsy fabrications of fact and political 'spin' by a government whose oratorial abilities are not much more advanced than those of student debating societies, the US administration (not particularly known for its anti-corruption efforts) is, for the most part, baldly lying to its electorate. And getting away with it.

I generally try to stay away from getting too involved in it all. Partly because I'll get an ulcer if I let it get to me too much, but also because a lot of my company's corporate work is tied to, you guessed it, the Houses of Parliament over here. Anyone know of any area of life that isn't shades of murky grey?

I'm as involved in US politics as most US citizens (possibly more so), mainly due to the US wielding such enormous power on the world stage. The cheesy line "With great power comes great responsibility" is sadly being ignored by the Bush administration to the point that, whenever a conflict arises around the world, the only ambassador that elicits groans of horror when they arrive is Condoleezza Rice. You just know that things are going to get worse once she starts harping on at whoever it is that's fighting...

The major difficulty facing the US is, as is the way of things in modern times, one of perception. When I was growing up, the US was a country to aspire to visit; kids would dream of going to US schools, having US friends, eating US food and talking in that wonderfully exotic (at the time) accent.

Now, the US is broadly percieved as an arrogant, blundering idiot child of a country, crashing around demanding the rest of the world does things its way, shouting and kicking until it gets its way. I've got to stress that this is a perception of the country and is not an attack on the citizens of the US, who are f**king excellent people, IMHO.

As with all generalisations, close scrutiny makes this evaporate quicker than a good glass of whisky in an air-conditioned hotel bar. Citizens of the US are being done a horrifying disservice by their administration, led by a thick, red-necked buffoon who, if he wasn't in charge of the biggest economy in the world (and all that leviathan entails), would be just the funny little man who runs Dumbfuckistan. However, this illiterate fuckwit and his accomplices have managed to make the world a progressively more dangerous place, provoked wars, increased globabl terrorism (not without the odd spot of help here and there, obviously), pushed the US into brain-melting national debt, endangered relations between many countries and made the rest of us constantly have to remind ourselves that the rest of the US public are not like him.

Bill Clinton, for all his foibles (Jesus, he got his dick sucked - lighten up!), was a deal-maker. Though not possessed of the greatest track record of any US president, he was willing to ask of even some of the most extreme foreign leaders: "What is it you want?" and "How can we come to a compromise?" You have to start from there. Unwillingness to compromise is not strength, it is weakness borne of fear and hatred.

So, I have a plan. Reasonable, moderate and stylish (naturally).

Over here in the UK, we once had this fella called Guy Fawkes...

No, seriously. Get out and vote. Participate in bringing down this bastard and installing someone (anyone!) with a brain and an awareness that foreigners are a GOOD THING and should be engaged in an inclusive dialogue instead of bombed, burnt, tortured and obliterated. Republican or Democrat? Doesn't matter, just stop him and stop him now. You badly need a government in which you can place some trust.

Rant over. Apologies all...

wcdixon said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
wcdixon said...

Thanks for that Mr. Walker - always good to get it off the chest, I suppose

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