Sunday, September 21, 2008

Re-COUNT

I live in Illinois. We're a blue state, have been for ages. Our state is going to go to Obama, no matter what I do. Recently I overheard some co-workers talking about how it's not even worth it to go to the polls because our votes wouldn't matter (we're going to Obama), and even if we were a swing state, our votes wouldn't matter because of the electoral college. And I know it's true, but it still pisses me off.

What can I do at a polling place that matters? I don't trust either one of those rich fuckers. According to opensecrets.org, McCain has raised $230 million and Obama has raised $454 million. They're both elitists. They are both richer than I will ever even hope to dream of being.

Neither one of those rich fuckers will ever know what it's like to sell possessions to put gas in their cars. (I had to do that three weeks ago). Neither one will ever have to take a jar of coins down to the CoinStar and lose 8.9¢/dollar just to get money to turn into quarters to do laundry. (That was two weeks ago). And you can bet your sweet ass that neither one of them has ever had to use to a windbreaker as a winter coat (in Chicago, no less) and sat around on the el trying not to cry because everybody else looked so warm and cozy. (That was ten years ago.)

So I'm doing something different. I am going to count this year. I am not voting for either one of those over-funded, over-polished, under-hearted jackasses. I'm putting my vote in for a third party. "No! Not another one!" you're thinking. "That's how we lost in 2000, you ninny!" you might be screaming at your monitor. No, no. You don't understand. My vote won't elect Obama or McCain. My vote will, however, get us one tiny step further on the road to eliminating the two party system. It will not be lost in the millions of other moot votes, it will not be just a drop in the ocean running towards the pockets of American politicians and the corporations that pull their strings. My ancestors didn't fight for my right to sit idly by and be another brick in the wall. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Susan B Anthony, and all those forgotten others, did not fight so that my vote could be cast in vain.

To the disillusioned millions out there who think their votes do not count, I say you're doing it wrong. You're voting for the leaders of Corporate America, not the leaders of our America. You're voting for bailouts for the rich and the legislation of motherhood, death, and love. What does John McCain know about women that gives him the right to say if we can have an abortion? What right has Barak Obama to tell the millions of terminally ill Americans that they can't die a dignified, peaceful death at the mercy of a needle? What right does anybody have to tell us who to love, and how, and whether we can be married? None. Absolutely none.

You have got to stop voting for the candidate who had the best stories on Letterman or the guy who did the funniest skit on SNL. You have got to stop that NOW. You have to stop voting for what's cool and start voting for what is right. The two party system isn't right. The electoral college isn't right. But the absence of your voice is your permission for this mess to continue. You cannot sit on your ass, stuffing your face and watching "America's Next Top Model" and expect anything at all to change. YOU are the change. YOU have the right, the power, and the responsibility to vote for someone who doesn't speak for Corporate America. The problems of our nation, of our world, rest on your shoulders.

Stop doing what the TV tells you to do. Be somebody you can be proud of. Turn off your fucking iPod and stand up to count for something. Start a revolution.

3 comments:

Melo said...

Gosh, I skimmed over your post (I fess up I didn't want to read the entire thing right now) but what I read it's what I always say, exactly. They both suck, both parties are awful; I too don't believe in votes counting (how in heavens did Bush "win" twice? that's the biggest proof that it's rigged). But after the last debate, seeing McSame not only offend voters ('I bet you never heard or "frannie" and Freddie before this crisis') and saying "that one", being his stupid senile self, I had temporarily decided to take votes away from his arse. In no way can McSame and Palin be up there, for bejesus' sake. In case it matters, I will vote for Obama, but we still need people to f-ing wake the hell up and stop trusting these uckers that just offer cheap talk. Obama included. And I am one one the people saying the word "revolution" quite often.

What's my point? I guess just to say: "I'm with ya, bro".

Now lemme go finish reading that post. LOL ;)

Melo said...

Oh gee, I called you bro. Sorry, sistah! I'm too eager to post a comment, as you see.

I killed my TV earlier this year, for the first time. I had no idea of what difference that small act would make in my mind and life. Why, oh why, did I veg out in front of that thing for my entire life, so far??????
What a waste of precious time that I can never recover!!

Melo said...

I blogged ya.

http://meloearth.blogspot.com/2008/10/bockety-re-count.html

I think we need to be virtual friends. No worries, I'm not a stalker. I'm actually the very opposite. But I think I like you already, just from the meeting of the minds.