I watched Leonardo DiCaprio’s “Don’t Vote” video (click here) today, and wondered: Could this possibly have any impact on his target audience: the non-registered and non-voting American public?History says, “Hell No!”
I can think of a lot of reasons why people don’t vote, but these reasons can be reduced to two things: (1) a lack of interest or (2) a lack of faith. Why toddle down to the local fire house in the rain if you don’t care about the state of the country and who runs it, or don’t believe it would matter if you did? Besides, your entire day is taken up by a bunch of things you do that have an immediate and evident impact on the lives of you and yours: work, play, study, advocacy, relationship-building, charities, sports playoffs – tangible, immediate things you know about, not hear about through the filter of jaded politicians and pundits.
But your world – your “me-ocosm” – is nestled in the body of a town, a state, a country, a world. Your life is the smallest character at the center of a good ol’ American nesting doll. Whether you like it or not, whether you want it or not, you are enveloped by our government, our economy, or energy plans, our social structures, our religious dogmas, our prejudices, our wars, our fears, our hopes and our dreams.
As you read this, there are people messing with the architecture of your dreams. There are people making decisions that matter to you and yours. Think about it. All those things you call your life are impacted, in ways small and large, by the people with whom we entrust the leadership of our country.
The good news? You have the power to determine who these people are, how much power they hold, and how long they hold it.
And, all you have to do is three things:
Vote: Choose the best person for the job.
Observe: See if they are performing their job with competency and honor.
React: Vote them in, or vote them out.
Please vote.
And, if you haven’t registered, time is running out this very week. So, please register.
Here. I’ll help: http://www.declareyourself.com/
Now then.
Please.
Vote.
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10 comments:
Fe woman! YES! What is interesting...many people who don't take the time to vote complain the most! The older I get, the more tuned in I am...I devour the political scene and always want to learn more. Gary and I take great pleasure in asking people "What are you doing about it?" Those who do nothing need to grow up and take on some responsibility. SJ is going to have something to say about this...I just know it.
Lori
Lori you are my hero! Keep talking. Keep asking. Keep challenging. Keep doing all you do. That is the only thing that has any effect. I believe in my heart that we are at a critical juncture, and we must not let go of this opportunity to move things in the right direction. I don't care if I have a small part, as long as I have part. :-)
If I don't like the contestants, I vote "blankly" (as we say in Swedish...) anyway just to show that I didn't find any party that I wanted to support on full.
Lori must be psychic. :)
You're assuming (1)that one of the two candidates who might possibly "win" the election, IS actually worth voting for, the "right" person or "best" person for the job and 2) that your vote will actually be counted and will matter.
I don't see much evidence to support either of those assumptions, and apparently I'm not the only one.
I think it was Stalin who said it doesn't matter who votes, it only matters who COUNTS the votes.
The last two presidential elections were a vote-fraud farce and it looks like this one's lining up to be even worse.
As my dad once told me, if you're in a card game and you find out it's rigged -- but you KEEP playing as if it weren't, then you're an idiot.
I care deeply about what happens to the country I once loved and to the world. But by participating in sham/scam election, I'm giving that fraudulent process my tacit endorsement.
So, Like the man said, include me out.
sj
Spartacus Jones -
Lori IS psychic! You best remember that.
As for you dark views:
1. I assume nothing.
2. I mentioned no candidate. Vote for whomever you like. Vote for yourself. BTW, I think there's some guy skulking around the shadows mumbling about Pintos who might suit your fancy. :-)
3. If you are worried about voter fraud, perhaps you might do us the service of stepping up and doing something about it. That goes for poker games. And, it certainly goes for the country you care deeply about.
Step up, man. :-)
Esther -
Have to say again I really enjoyed your blog yesterday. Don't mind voting blacnkly at all. That fits in well with the need to say SOMETHING.
"Vote for whomever you like" might be just a touch disingenuous when you know very well that only the the two parity party presidential candidates have any chance of being elected -- even if the voting WEREN'T fixed.
In any case, m'darlin,' I'm TRYING to do something about it; I'm boycotting the election.
It would be a LOT easier for me to "do something about it" if all you good folks would just STOP GOING ALONG WITH IT, as if everything were just fine.
sj
Good morning Spartacus Jones,
Glad to find you in good form! :-)
I beg you to consider something more active that simply boycotting. In the case of voting, will: (1) anyone even know you're boycotting, and (2) would they care? I don't know if boycotting voting holds a great enough threat for anyone to change, but perhaps plays right into "their" hands.
I liked your "parity party" line.
@Fe: Glad you liked it! If there's one thing I've learned these past years, it's to to figure out the agencies agenda before taking their info at face value. I already knew that in politics, things are never as they seen, but that goes for aid and business too. And very much so when aid and business start going hand in hand :-)
Good luck with the US elections!
Esther -
Disheartening that charities have the same faults as other organizations, but I guess when people come together greed and power struggles follow.
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