10.30.2008

Yep. Still on My Soapbox for Thursday Thirteen.

Unless you've been living under a rock (and even then, I suspect that you might have heard Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews blathering) you know that Tuesday, November 4th is Election Day.

What are you going to do about it? The answer had better be, "Vote. Duh." But on the slim chance that you are still ambivalent about things, here are...

Thirteen Reasons To Vote!

• To shut up all those "If you don’t vote then you can't complain" people. (And I’m one of those people, in case you hadn’t figured that out.)

• Because if you don’t vote, the terrorists win (unless you were going to vote for the terrorists, in which case they win anyway...)

• You have a hankering to relive taking a test in college when you used the Christmas Tree method of filling in the circles hoping to get some right. (Don’t deny it -- we’ve all been there...)

• You want your voice to be heard by more people than your friends on a night of drinking and BS. (Don’t deny it -- we’ve all been there...)

• You like to stand in line and pretend you're waiting for a Wii or you’re getting tickets to the midnight debut showing of “Twilight”.

• Because it's your right and your privilege. Each prior generation has lived through, suffered through, or participated in a struggle to expand voter rights. Americans have fought against laws barring African American, female, impoverished, and 18 to 20 year old Americans from voting. And even today there are countries where people are still dying for this very privilege we sometimes take for granted.

• You get to sport an "I Voted" sticker after the deed is done. SO stylish and hip.

• To cancel out the vote of that obnoxious neighbor/co-worker/relative who won’t shut up about his/her preference and constantly sends you e-mail propaganda with their viewpoint. We all have at least one person like this in our sphere of existence... I have several, actually. Lucky me.

• Guess what? Our government was designed for citizen participation -- so if you don't vote, other people are going to make the decisions for you. And if you’re anything like me, you HATE to have decisions made for you.

• It's your tax money, job, health care, education, environment and so much more at stake. Elected representatives make choices that directly affect each and every one of us. Your vote can go to ensure that the person who best represents your perspective is the one making those decisions.

• Every vote counts. This was never made more clear than during the 2000 Presidential election. I’m from Florida -- I lived through that nightmare transpiring in my own backyard. It wasn’t fun.

• You want to finally find out what the hell the electoral college is.

• Because this is the most important election of our lifetime. Period. No question.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would vote but I am the wrong side of the pond and therefore unable to vote on this occasion - I'm only 22 maybe one day I will live in the US nad have the right to vote hehe.

But if you don't vote you have no right to whinge when the president messes up your country!

Anonymous said...

All excellent reasons!

Lazy Daisy said...

Great reasons....hope everyone follows your lead.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it too late to register? I'm feeling the urge to vote even though doing so will land me on jury duty.

bronsont said...

you go girl, I support you 100. I voted last Tuesday the 28th!

Ruprecht said...

*SIGH*

Rupe's votin' already! He does, he does! Stop yellin' at him!

*yeesh*

Debbie@Like a Rose said...

Yeah! Get out the vote!

Journeywoman said...

I am so with you on this!

And your choice of candidate...come to my TT and see why!

Bethanne said...

Yes. Please vote. Even afraid that my vote will be pretty much wasted based on the state that I'm living in right now, I'm voting.

...and I can't waaaait! for it to be over. The suspense is killing me!

April said...

On my LA Moms blog post, I mentioned how I scared the crap out of my daughter when she asked if you "have to vote" when you turn 18. You would've thought she'd have asked if snorting heroine was okay!

Anonymous said...

You're so cool. I think I know how cool you are... then WHAM, you just get that much cooler!

((hug))

Denise Patrick said...

Great list. I voted on Monday so I wouldn't have to stand in line next Tuesday. I'm done - I've had my say. It's all over but the shouting now for me.

Happy TT!

Anonymous said...

Loves, loves, loves, loves, loves this!!! Excellent!! I will be there next Tuesday with bells on to cast my ballot!!

Anonymous said...

I voted yesterday and CAN NOT WAIT until Tuesday. This is the most exciting election I can remember!

Woot!!! Great post again, Jane.

XOXO

Malcolm said...

All legit reasons. Luckily, I don't have someone in my life bombarding me with e-mail propaganda on their political viewpoints.