Reactionary

I was almost disenfranchised today. If I had had to stay at work longer, I would have been. Several staff members will be, the ones who work 12 hour shifts, get off at 1930 and there’s no way they’ll be back in their home county by 2000 when the polls close. Why is it so hard to cast a ballot? That was the topic of conversation for much of the day when the Terrible Twosome weren’t causing a ruckus.

Why is it a bank can keep track of every penny in thousands’ accounts and all you need to pull up the records is a PIN number? You can get your credit report online after entering a few personal details. And yet, to cast a ballot you have to go to some polling station near your home that’s open for just over 12 hours a day (sadly cut at the end of the day when most people have time to go), battle lines full of your neighbors, and manned by retirees. How come we as a nation can’t figure this out? Why is it to hard? Can’t you go online like how millions file their taxes and cast an online ballot? It’s almost like they don’t want you to vote. Who “they” are is up to you.

When I got there, there was no line. Good thing, because they only have two voting booths. Two. In a city this size. By the time the little old lady had found my name in the little book, there was a line of six, clearly the well-employed, well-educated side of society. Why do polls close so early? Working people can’t get there before 1800, later if they have to commute.

I voted a straight ticket, but it’s not like I have a strong affinity for either party. What’s most importance is the desire of the representative to continue doing things his populace wants. Endlessly reelecting the same candidates removes the peril they will be out of a job and the sense that someone is watching. We need term limits for all elected offices. Inexperience in a delegate is nothing compared to overconfidence or being too much at ease. We need to vote people out. We need to vote. We need to turn the TV off and read about what’s going on in Washington. These people must be accountable for their actions and they must know the elected office must be earned, it’s not a birthright.

Posted on November 7th, 2006 under Life, News •  Print •  Email • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback