Yes, I spent the last week
thinking about the same thing as everyone else: the election. Yes, I know, it’s
over. Yes, you’re tired of it. I am too but before I move onto watching the new
Real Housewives season, I do have some thoughts. What can I possibly add to the
national conversation that hasn’t already been said? Well, the good thing (for
me) is that it doesn’t matter if I have anything original to add, I live in a
country where I can post whatever I want and say whatever I want! If you don’t
want to read it, don’t bother.
So in this time of division
and are-you-red-or-blue state, I prefer to focus on the positive: this nation
and this world are changing. To me, that fact alone is intrinsically positive.
And I prefer to get on board rather than get left behind.
Let me just say this
outright: I am a registered Independent. Technically, I am not red or blue. I
am so tired of people asking me why I constantly choose to “waste my vote” that
I don’t bother discussing the intricacies of the reasoning behind my philosophy
(basically, we’re never going to have a real chance at a third party unless we
establish there is a voting public that’s ready for it—but that’s another post
for another day).
But currently I live in a
country that’s facing record unemployment, skyrocketing debt, and a huge number
of the populace is uninsured, being foreclosed on, and out of options. On the other hand, a record number of women
were just made elected officials, a gay marriage bill was passed in my home
state of Washington, and medical marijuana will now be available to more ill
people than ever before. I say that’s progress.
It was the first (probably
not the last) $2 billion election. And while everyone on the right is wondering
why Romney lost, everyone on the left is wondering why anyone on the right
thought Romney ever had a chance to win to begin with. While I am not
Republican, I was open to a Republican candidate—because I hope I have a
somewhat-open mind. I was not, however, open to candidate (and a ticket) that
had two, white, rich men who spouted platitudes and didn’t seem to offer any
real change.
I don’t know what the next 4
years will bring. I am up for some hope and change—and I’m also up for brilliance,
innovation, acceptance and original thought. Who’s with me?
After reading a ton of what
other, much more erudite people said about this election, here are two of my
favorites:
Maureen Dowd in The New York
Times:
David Frum in The Daily
Beast:
