Kara & Michael’s Blog

It’s election day. I guess I should preface this whole discussion with one fact: my family is very into voting. I mean, they’re hardcore voters. My paternal grandparents were of the “it’s your duty, get your ass to the polls” philosophy. My parents instituted that in my immediate family. To this day, I don’t believe any of my siblings have missed an election they could vote in, although we never discuss who we voted for.

My parents aren’t the only ones who instituted a similar policy. I was speaking to an aunt today who made two apple pies to share with anyone who voted. I spoke to her this morning and she was very excited about the election, asking if I was ready to make history. I assumed she was talking about voter turn-out, not electing the first black US president (which is pretty much a guarantee at this point).

I’ve been tempted, in my recent politically chaotic thoughts, to choose not to vote. But I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it yet. It’s not about choosing the lesser of two evils, and anyone who says that is an idiot. There are hundreds of people doing write-in campaigns. If you tell me you don’t support any of those people, I think you’re just plain crazy.

But I despise politics. Just, in general. I find it hard to respect, pandering to the masses. Let’s face it, the masses don’t know what’s best for the country as a whole in a lot of situations. I don’t. Which is why I’ve frequently called for having a candidate smart and confident enough to seek out opinions and think about what’s best for the country and not about what’s going to garner votes. Watching both major parties candidates pander to the religiously insane is depressing.

I also despise politics because somehow people get so wrapped up in candidates and party lines that they start demonizing the “other” and idolizing their own little statue. It’s stupid. I’m not idiotic enough to do either.

I’ve realized a lot about my politics, and it’s taken a lot of arguments and thinking and reading. I think I’ve said before that I respect any viewpoint that’s arrived at through similar struggle. I amend that, I respect any reasonable viewpoint that’s been arrived at through a similar struggle. I’m not into superiority, but certain viewpoints are entirely unreasonable, in my perspective. If you tell me that the sky is green when it’s clearly blue, well, that’s a lovely thought but it doesn’t make your opinion reasonable and it doesn’t mean I have to respect your decision although clearly you have a right to say it.

Here’s my point, though, really. It’s a Tuesday night, I got the day off (yay for state government holidays!), I’ve had half a bottle of dry champagne, homemade apple pie, and some birch beer. The champagne was even from California. And Michael and I are staying up to watch the votes come in and it’s looking like America might elect its first black president. Which is momentous, but more than that – he is the right man for the job, at this time in history, for the country as it stands. I think the votes will prove that most Americans believe that much. I think the votes will prove that many Americans who do not usually swing that way believe that much. Time will tell. But it’s an interesting night.

—-

For those not in the know, I personally had a job interview today at a freaking brewery. A brewery with Hunter S. Thompson quotes everywhere and Steadman artwork all over the walls. There is little more enchanting than the scent of brewed beer being processed and ingredients being roasted, so keep your fingers crossed for me.