Low Energy

It’s residue from the elections I think, this slow, sluggish feeling.

Here’s a secret: yesterday was my first time voting. Ever. I’m a bit embarassed to admit that, but I’m happy I finally did vote. I really did feel that a lot of people in America were like me – distanced from politics, and not really feeling like they were able to impact things.

The 2000 elections definitely changed my views on things, and I’ve not been happy with the current administration. And so I took part in the process, and cast my vote.

There are a lot of people, a lot of my friends, who were more passionate about their political views – more passionate about their unhappiness with the current state of affairs. If I’m feeling this weight around me today, I can’t even begin to imagine what they must feel like.

Slight rant: this morning, while taking a shower, I was listening to NPR. There was a Bush representative being interviewed, and he claimed that Ohio was pretty much in the bag for Bush. Now, while I had conceded Bush’s victory, there still remained the issue of the uncounted provisional ballots. This Bush advisor said things about how the Kerry camp should just “do the simple math” and urged them to concede… and to stop “causing a rift” in America. I’m paraphrasing his words here, but this really pissed me off. I was actually yelling back at the radio at several points.

Again, I had conceded Bush’s victory when I heard this. But for god’s sake – count the fucking votes, and then declare victory. This kind of smug attitude is representative of what I dislike in Bush, and it doesn’t really make voters feel like their votes count. Sure it’s an incredibly statistical improbability that those provisional votes would have changed anything. But count every vote and maybe make the fucking gesture like you care about all the votes. Then declare victory. I’m fine acknowledging Bush as the new president. I can do without the gloating.

Sorry. This thing really got under my skin this morning.

I’m happy I voted. I’m happy I took part. Even if the Electoral votes had shaken out differently, Bush still got the popular vote which, in my mind, is how I’d like to gauge things. I have no problems with the process; I’m just unhappy at the outcome.