The old saying, “If you’re not a part of the solution, you’re part of the problem,” never made more sense than when applied to American voters and the political system. Just what will it take for the American people to sit up and take notice as their rights slowly slip away, while politicians shit in their ivory towers never having known what it’s like to be an average citizen? One thing is for sure; even a president who doesn’t listen to congress at all isn’t doing it.
In the 1996 presidential election, 49% of the voting population actually went to the polls. 95.5 million people decided that race. Pathetic by any standards; even when compared to the 51%, or 105 million people, who voted in the 2000 election. Things were a little better in 2004 when 64% of the voting population turned up at the polls, but that was mostly because a few more people went to the polls to try and get Bush out of the Whitehouse. It failed, but what does that say about the American people?
Instead of trying to vote for the best candidate, they’re forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. That’s if they even care enough to go out and vote. For those who don’t vote, many sit at home complaining about the government or their lot in life. They demand that the government see to their needs. Things like safe neighborhoods, education, and even food somehow becomes the responsibility of a government that they didn’t even have the sense to go out and vote for. Does that mean that people are lazy?
In some cases, the answer would be yes. Ten minutes to push a few buttons is far too much time for them to spare, even though most states require that an employer allow up to two hours for its employees to go vote. In other cases it’s simple apathy, or some belief that their vote doesn’t count. They may be right about the latter in some cases, but giving up is worse than being lazy. Can it be better? Many would say that it can be, but then we look at the current choices for presidential candidates.
Parties don’t care who the best candidate is when nominating; only that the person in question is electable. Take Obama Barak for example. He talks and talks about the need for change, but if you look at his record in Illinois he flip-flops just as much as John McCain. People listen to him because he represents a voice of change, and they recognize the need for change. They’re just not listening to what he’s saying.
Would John McCain be any better? Without a doubt, the answer would be a resounding no. But people are still voting for him; at least the few who actually turn out at polling places.
So, what are the American people to so? Well, first they need to get up off their rears and pay attention. Feeling shame is fine, but they need to do something about the root of that shame or it’ll never go away. Go out and vote!
