Today I registered to vote. I don't know exactly who I will be voting for; most definitely not Bush, but whether I vote for the opponent most likely to win or someone I would prefer to see in office, I don't know. But now I have the chance to choose.
My state's instructions for the Federal Post Card Application require you to state the last time you voted...it was 1990, I think. I wanted to vote the local councilwoman out of office--she had made some really bad decisions for the city. Voting was not a hassle at all as the polling place was conveniently located at the middle school across the street from where we lived.
That was way back in the early days of my marriage, when the neighborhood kids would shout "Fake yuppies!" at me and Tod in the evenings when we came home from our entry-level office jobs to our falling-apart $260/month apartment. We weren't fake yuppies at all; we truly were Young Urban Professionals although on a very modest scale.
Time has passed. I haven't voted in 14 years and have shrugged off all acronyms and labels. I may not be able to regain my youth, but I can still vote. And I will.
Why?
I don't know much about politics. I come from a Kingdom where the King is hereditary and we never had to think about choosing leaders for our country. :-D
However, i can see Why the choice to be able to choose your own leader makes a difference. So, I think its great you are going to vote.
I hope one day, i will be able to vote as well in my country for the right reasons. :-)
Go voter! I'm registered and will vote, and am working on educating myself enough to make an informed decision.
Fake Yuppies? That's the best they could come up with?
Did you shout back "Fake Hecklers!"?
As an Australian I find it incredibly difficult to understand what I can only see as an apathy that seems to hold sway over voters in many comparable countries, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom. Australia is one of a few countries in the world with mandatory voting. Mandatory voting is not about a lack of choice; nothing stops me from voting informally, all I'm asked (well, required) to do is choose.
As best I know the last US election saw roughly 51% percent of the population vote - apparently that was one of the largest voter turnouts in recent history. This does my head in. I'm glad you've chosen to vote - I consider it perhaps the most significant relationship democratic societies have with their constituents. Why choose to ignore the opportunity to make your opinion count?
SO glad you are going to vote. We desperately need a regime change here and I appreciate your help! I also am pleased that you still feel 'American' enough to care.