Well, I'm keeping tabs on the primary elections tonight, just to see what is happening. Hillary already won Ohio... and it's looking like Texas too (as of a few minutes ago). If she does indeed win both, that means she's not out of the running yet. And I'll be glad.
Yes, I voted. Since I was an emergency poll worker, I was on call. Thankfully, with all the problems they were running into today, they didn't call me in. Though, of course, the money would have been very nice.
This is turning into quite an interesting election. Most Americans would be happy with either candidate, but I'll confess I voted for Hillary Clinton. Why? Well, for one it's a major chance to have a woman in office. I also liked her while she was First Lady, and she did reach out to people even back then. She seems to have an insider's perspective of how Washington and the presidency works so at the very least, she can tell what changes can be made and how. She has been attacked for getting defensive and attacking Obama, but if she were a man would we be taking that more lightly?
That's the tricky part of this campaign. Who you vote for will be scrutinized. If you vote Hillary, you might be a racist. If you vote Obama, you might be sexist. If you don't vote... well, then you're safe except for being an idiot for not voting in the first place.
Seriously. There's no excuse.
It seems like the younger crowd likes Obama. Also, judging by the exit polls, votes are also strongly divided along racial lines. Well, not so much on Hillary's side... that's all rather even. It makes us wonder: are we voting for one candidate because of who they are outside instead of inside? If both were white males, would the voting be different right now?
Sadly, it's the way people think. It's not about what's inside... the platform... past experience. It's white woman versus black man. Simply put. And that's how many people view it. Not all, but many.
Do I like Obama? Well, yes... but I disagree with him on some of his ideas. Health care... honestly, just making it "more affordable" and not universal? We're still the one "powerful" country that doesn't have universal health care. Shouldn't we try to be even with the rest of the world? And how exactly does he plan to make all these things happen? (Not to sound like Hillary) But I would like to see definitive plans, not just a pipe dream. And yes, Hillary does spell things out quite clearly on her website... she actually covers the "how" portion.
So, the lines are drawn but fading between the two. The race is neck-and-neck. Obama was gloating the other day over his latest victories.... now the two big states are letting him know that arrogance isn't pretty.
it's not over yet... and neither are the heated discussions between the candidates and the American people...
Many of us will be anxiously awaiting the results (and breathing a sigh of relief that the phone calls and television ads have subsided) as the world turns its eyes to us to see what decision we make.
We often forget that voting is a privilege. In some countries, the government domineers the people and keeps them silent. If we had such a history, perhaps voter turnout would be at a higher level. People become lax, apathetic, and careless. These principles are what foster dictatorial rulers.
No matter what your views, remember the importance of the election process. If you fail to take the time and cast your ballot, you become part of what is wrong with the country. Passiveness becomes a harbinger of oppression. And when politics go awry, you revoke your right to criticize.
The world is watching. What you decide to do today can effect the course of history.
