It has occurred to me that as we approach the upcoming election that a certain question has been percolating in my head for awhile now. That is, does any and everyone's one single vote actually matter?
Given the state of things, it is pretty clear that we do not in fact live in a system in which anyone can run and hope to win any office let alone the presidency. The sad truth is we live in a two party system and no one non Democrat or Republican has a fighting chance. Currently it looks as though Obama is set to win, and although I guess I would consider him the lesser of two evils yet again, I would prefer a Ron Paul in the White House looking out for me. I do believe it is one's right and responsibility to vote and to be heard, but with a lack of choices it makes the process painful and seemingly pointless at times.
Also, looking back on the events of the 2000 and 2004 elections, it would seem a man given the right resources can buy the presidency even when they very plainly lose the election. And if you throw in the Electoral College process and its complete lack of adherence to speaking accurately for the people, it makes me wonder.
And so again I ask, do our votes really matter?
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2 comments:
Presidential elections can definitely leave you feeling unrepresented when you can't identify with either candidate. It usually does feel like voting for the lesser of two evils, and when choosing someone to represent you and your country, that can be an especially sad feeling.
Election time is also when it becomes especially clear how biased our media has become on both sides. We are rarely given all the details and you can get radically different information and coverage based on who owns the outlet. Candidate doesn't fit into the media mold? Just black him out. No coverage will turn into no backing, eventually leading to them not being a choice for your vote.
I do encourage everyone to register and vote. The only way this situation will get better is if the people take an active role in government. Especially when you consider who you vote for locally as your mayor, governor and senator. Look into the candidates who run in offices that hold the checks and balances. There's usually so little media coverage for these positions you might even get someone in there who you agree with.
I have to say I agree as well. As ground breaking as it may be to finally have a young, racially mixed person in the White House the sad truth is that he is just as "bought and payed for" as any of the old white guys. Any basic research will show this, and listening to him back peddle everything he was initially saying at the onset of the campaign will make this clear as well.
What scares me is that he has such a cult of personality thing going on that with any criticism of this administration I can hear people saying "that means your racist!" ..etc etc. And, although there is vote fraud in large amounts (as we saw in 2000 and 2004) they didn't need that trick this time - Everyone was so tired of Bush (and rightly so) that Obama won the popular vote fair and square.
The real challenge for most will be to see beyond this false right left pendulum-like pattern that keeps occurring just to keep the people docile and satisfied. I the most important things are, (1) to still to vote for who you truly want to see win, and (2), to always speak your mind and challenge others to try and see outside of the mainstream media-induced/fear-based haze they are stumbling around in.
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