Comments on: VOTE

By: Betsy Wuebker

Betsy Wuebker — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:03:00 +0000

Hi Vered – Thank you. I am happy my son chose to look up issues and base his process on research. Being 21, his context and perspective will differ from ours, although I was happy to know he was leaning our way. We’ll see.

Hi Davina – It was a lovely, warm day here in Minnesota. Now we’ll watch the news until we have to go to bed. Tomorrow, hopefully, all will be decided. Thanks!

Hi Kathy – good for you for being assertive. The last thing we want is a similar situation to hanging chad! We don’t have to show ID in Minnesota and it makes me mad. You have to show ID to do almost everything else!

Hi Cath – I’ve often wondered how other countries keep all the various parties straight. The others aside from our two main ones never really amount to much except fringe. I just can’t imagine having to risk my life to exercise my franchise. I wonder if I’d be strong enough to do so. Here, a lot of judges ran unopposed, so I didn’t vote for them.

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:07:53 +0000

Hi Betsy - what a great story. We are so lucky to have that freedom aren't we. This story reminds me of what we witnessed on tv when folk were frightened to vote against Mugabe in Africa. That must be a terrible feeling - being ruled by a monster, yet too afraid to vote against him. Your elections are different to ours in the UK. We vote for whoever is in power already, or the opposition. There's more than 2 different parties here - but really it's only a choice between the existing Prime Minister and one other guy. The others never get as many votes. I guess there's people wanting to vote for this, but it always seems like you're wasting your vote. Cath Lawson´s last blog post..Affiliate Commissions: Don’t Get Screwed

By: Kathy @ Virtual Impax

Kathy @ Virtual Impax — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:36:24 +0000

I too walked with my youngest to cast my vote this morning. Unlike every other time I've voted since moving to Florida, this time I had to stand in line to make my voice heard. I was also alarmed by the poll worker. In Florida we have to show ID, sign our name AND fill in a circle beside our name. I showed my ID and signed my name. After two sweeps of the pen in the circle, the poll worker tried to wave me off. "That's good enough," she said. "NO!" I replied. "The instructions say to FILL IN the circle so please, allow me to follow the instructions so my vote will count." It's scary to think that others votes may not count because they were waved off because there was a line! Kathy @ Virtual Impax´s last blog post..Sneak Peak at Wordpress 2.7 Dashboard

By: Davina

Davina — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:27:27 +0000

Betsy, what a refreshing take on politics! Thank you! Hope you enjoy your peaceful autumn walk. Davina´s last blog post..A Ghostly Life Experience

By: Vered - MomGrind

Vered - MomGrind — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:37:32 +0000

We ARE lucky to have our civil rights and freedoms. We should never take them for granted.

So many people vote based on anything other than research into the candidates’ policies. It’s wonderful that your family is actually doing research prior to voting.

By: Betsy Wuebker

Betsy Wuebker — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:04:09 +0000

Hi Ari – I understand. One of my best friends is Canadian, and she recently got her U.S. citizenship, and is voting in her first U.S. election. It was a long decision, and it’s hard to change your allegiance. I doubt if I could do it. I know you’ll do what is right for you. Meanwhile, we’re glad to have you!

By: Ari Koinuma

Ari Koinuma — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:53:09 +0000

Thanks for this post. It's so easy to take our rights for granted, but not having it has devastating consequences. I've actually never voted in my life. I am still a Japanese citizen, though I never lived in Japan all my adult life. Japan doesn't officially allow dual-citizenship. On voting days every time I think about whether I want to become an American. It's a conflict between wanting to get involved in the decision-making where I live, and allegiance/loyalty/identity of which nation I associate with. As of today, I am still a Japanese citizen. I do want to vote, but I am not quite in a place where I feel comfortable pledging my allegiance to US. ari Ari Koinuma´s last blog post..Fear of Success: Why, and How to Beat It