I Went to See My Congressman.

I know I've been totally lame lately.  I don't know.  Life just kind of rolls on by. 

But today, I want to talk about something.

I remember being a kid, going with my mom and standing outside the voting booth while she cast her vote.  I think she's the one who first gave me the idea that your vote was secret, and that you didn't have to share whatever choice you made with anyone else. 

I remember being with my dad and asking him what "impeached" meant, when that word was bandied around in the Nixon days.

I remember being handed my first voter's registration card, by Inspector's father, with the R already stamped on it.

I remember campaigning in 1988, going door to door and driving little old ladies to their polling places. 

I remember the casting a vote for Bill Clinton way back in 1992 in someone's garage in Manhattan Beach, California and being so full of hope and promise... and I remember casting a vote against that same man four years later.

This weekend, I stood in line for over three hours to vote.  But this time was unlike any time before.  I honestly had no idea who I was going to vote for until the moment I had the ballot in my hand.  One of my paralegals opined yesterday that anyone who was still undecided was "a retard".  Hell, I've already voted and I admit, I am still undecided.  I'm not sure if that makes me a retard, or a realist, or what.  But I am worried that neither of our choices is qualified to lead us through what lies ahead.

You know what though?  I still voted.  It's important.  We, as citizens, have an obligation to participate.  And I am proud that I did, especially in an election that I feel so ambivalent about. 

And you should too.  We get the government we deserve.  Let's try to be worthy of better four years from now.

Comments

[Peggels]

you, my friend, are not now nor have ever been a retard.