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| The Remnants of Uncertainty...
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Oh politics.
I really do love them. But I hate them almost as much. I understand the frustration it brings to many people. I don't understand, however, how people can just not care about the leadership of our country.
Never has the entire world been so accessible than now. I can miss something on TV and catch it by recording on my DVR or viewing it online anytime I want. I can have a presidential candidate email me about what he is doing next, hell, this candidate can even text me updates on my phone.
With all this information at our fingertips, it boggles my mind that my generation is not only misinformed, but doesn't care to be informed at all. And then many of those who do listen to what they see on TV or in other various media outlets accept what they see blindly. I'm going to use a few analogies to help explain myself.
If an ESPN analyst tells you that your favorite team or player is going to have an awful year, you may accept that as a possibility, but do you just accept that as an absolute truth?
If a reviewer says one of your favorite albums or movies is crap, do you accept that as an absolute truth?
If you are religious and your pastor/whatever tells you that your way of life is wrong, do you go and change everything about your life just because he/she said so?
Thought not.
You see, we've reached the point in the election when it isn't about politics anymore. Right now, it is about who can fool you the best. Every stupid little detail is going to get hashed and rehashed over and over again. Every word will be scrutinized. Every voting record reviewed. Every absent glace mocked.
So, this is your job as an a citizen of a country that likes to boast its prominence and dominance and superiority to actually live up to the name we try to create for ourselves as U.S. citizens. Don't be part of this bravado and don't be part of the ignorance. I'm not telling you who to vote for, I'm telling you to vote and be informed when you do.
I, myself, am not afraid to voice my support for Obama/Biden. I'm not some bandwagon supporter either. I've supported both candidates since 2006. I saw Obama speak in Arizona before the primaries (coincidentally right before I saw Bill Clinton speak a few days later), and I saw Biden make an appearance on the Daily Show around that time. After seeing both men and hearing what they had to say, I researched their rhetoric and voting records. I liked what I saw from both: Obama being an eloquent speaker I felt could rally the youth who had a good voting record and pretty typical Democratic agenda, and Biden a firey, experienced policitian well-versed in foreign policy.
So last Saturday, when Obama texted me his choice of Biden as his VP candidate, I got my own version of the 'dream ticket'.
And as I've been watching the Democratic Convention, I've been thinking about the history being made here. I never thought that the first election I voted in would mean so much. I never thought I'd actually look up politicial news and keep track of primaries and make donations and watch videos of speeches and be moved. I never thought I'd do any of this. That in itself is a good sign for young Americans who have been moved by this coming election.
Seeing Hilary Clinton speak on Obama's behalf was also surprisingly touching to me. I saw something I liked in her, considering I wasn't a big fan for quite some time. I never thought Obama, the guy I liked so much back in 2006, would actually be where he is right now. I relate to him, he feels like a human to me. He is flawed but strong and persistent. He plays relatively fair and is geniune.
I understand why people would want to vote for McCain. People are resistant to change. People are self-involved and feel that as long as they have been okay during the last 8 years, they shouldn't have to worry about what others have gone through. People think a slowly declining system is better than exploring something new.
I just don't see how people don't want to bring our troops home, provide more people with healthcare, help our middle and lower classes achieve some financially stability, improve schools, etc.
I know what all of this is like. I work in the health insurance industry. I've talked to people absolutely devastated by a lack of health coverage. I was lucky enough to receive a surgery costing over $30,000 for a few copays because of my coverage. I have a cousin in Iraq. He is a proud soldier and has volunteered to go back. I just hope that he doesn't die in vain for being so loyal to a country sending him to fight a war that has an unclear purpose. I had to take an extra year to save up money just so I can go to college. I've already accepted that to get where I want career-wise I will have to get into a hole of debt. I have another cousin who has over $300,000 of loans from dental school, and even he goes to third world countries to provide dental services to the needy.
These people are who we need to support. We can't always be about ourselves, it isn't a good way to live. If we look after our fellow men and women we will get the same in return. I have no problem paying a few extra taxes if my parents will recieve better care when they grow old. I have no problem doing what I can to lower college tuition and improve high school education. I have no problem doing what I need to do so my friends and family can get the same kind of health coverage I have.
And if you want to argue that I haven't doine anything? I'll let you know that I have worked in the health insurance industry at a not-for-profit company and sent letters to legistlation to advocate changes in healthcare. I have offerred to speak at high schools about financial responsibility. I have expressed interest in going on mission trips but don't have the money to afford such a trip at this time. I have given $1000 of my own money for a scholarship that I gave to a graduating high school student who needed some extra aid.
I'm asking you all to think outside yourselves. I'm asking you to vote with your best interests as well as others around you in mind. I'm asking you to research the candidates and really think about who is going to do a better job. I'm not asking you to vote Obama over McCain, I'm asking you to vote well informed.
So, now it is up to you. | | Tags: politics, personal, obama, mccain, biden, clinton, health insurance, media, news |
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