VOTE?

[huskers]

Did you vote today?

[dreichla]

Absolutely!

[dragonfly]

Not yet. Still waking up.

[Dan-Wolfe]

It's election day here in the good ol' US of A. It's a day marked with a media frenzy only equalled when Madonna adopts, but that's neither here nor there. It's also a day when most of us rush to the polls with good intentions secure in the belief that we are actually participating in our government. And we are, to be sure.

The cynics among us believe that while every vote counts, no one vote really makes a difference. And from a purely statistical perspective, it's impossible for both to be true. It's hard for me to imagine that my vote for the Senator and Representative from the Commonwealth of Virginia this afternoon will have any more impact on the government of Virginia or the Nation than peeing in the neighborhood pool has any impact on the chemistry of the water contained therein.

But I like to pride myself on being somewhat politically aware, so I will dutifully report to the polling station tonight after work and cast my vote for whom I believe will be the best qualified. Or at least the least felonious individual in the bunch.

Having said all that, and tending to fall in with the politically cynical, it gives me great pride to walk into a pollilng booth, cast a vote without a single person applying undue pressure or a single person knowing of my choice. Contrast that with one of the last elections in Iraq before the war, where it was reported that 100% of the nation voted for Saddam. In this context, it becomes crystal clear to me that as cynical as I am, and as flawed as we Americans are, we still do it better than anywhere else on God's green Earth. And I am proud to be a small part of the process, no matter how statistically insignificant I may be. I can be proud of the fact that for each of us in the United States, our statistical impact may be small, but it's not zero as it is in many, less fortunate places in the world.

I have seen and lived in other places around the world, but right here -- here in my flawed, polarized, media saturated, hydrogenated, caffeinated nation -- just ain't so bad.

Dan

[Stev0]

Just got back from voting. I think we can all agree - Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, whatever - that this is still the greatest country in the world. I think we also all agree that admittedly we have our problems, but as Americans we can and will fix them (what those problems are and how to fix them is where we disagree). Eventually.

[dreichla]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dan-Wolfe @ Nov 7 2006, 11:14 AM) [snapback]344995[/snapback]</div>

It's election day here in the good ol' US of A. It's a day marked with a media frenzy only equalled when Madonna adopts, but that's neither here nor there. It's also a day when most of us rush to the polls with good intentions secure in the belief that we are actually participating in our government. And we are, to be sure.

The cynics among us believe that while every vote counts, no one vote really makes a difference. And from a purely statistical perspective, it's impossible for both to be true. It's hard for me to imagine that my vote for the Senator and Representative from the Commonwealth of Virginia this afternoon will have any more impact on the government of Virginia or the Nation than peeing in the neighborhood pool has any impact on the chemistry of the water contained therein.

But I like to pride myself on being somewhat politically aware, so I will dutifully report to the polling station tonight after work and cast my vote for whom I believe will be the best qualified. Or at least the least felonious individual in the bunch.

Having said all that, and tending to fall in with the politically cynical, it gives me great pride to walk into a pollilng booth, cast a vote without a single person applying undue pressure or a single person knowing of my choice. Contrast that with one of the last elections in Iraq before the war, where it was reported that 100% of the nation voted for Saddam. In this context, it becomes crystal clear to me that as cynical as I am, and as flawed as we Americans are, we still do it better than anywhere else on God's green Earth. And I am proud to be a small part of the process, no matter how statistically insignificant I may be. I can be proud of the fact that for each of us in the United States, our statistical impact may be small, but it's not zero as it is in many, less fortunate places in the world.

I have seen and lived in other places around the world, but right here -- here in my flawed, polarized, media saturated, hydrogenated, caffeinated nation -- just ain't so bad.

Dan
[/b]

Well said. Those who do not vote have nothing to say.

[Jeannie]

I voted this morning on the way to work - both the Senate and House of Representatives are tightly contested races where I live, so I got up early. I'm originally from Chicago, where 'Da Mare' liked his ward-heelers to encourage people to vote early, vote often.

[Skwyre7]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dan-Wolfe @ Nov 7 2006, 11:14 AM) [snapback]344995[/snapback]</div>

It's election day here in the good ol' US of A. It's a day marked with a media frenzy only equalled when Madonna adopts, but that's neither here nor there. It's also a day when most of us rush to the polls with good intentions secure in the belief that we are actually participating in our government. And we are, to be sure.

The cynics among us believe that while every vote counts, no one vote really makes a difference. And from a purely statistical perspective, it's impossible for both to be true. It's hard for me to imagine that my vote for the Senator and Representative from the Commonwealth of Virginia this afternoon will have any more impact on the government of Virginia or the Nation than peeing in the neighborhood pool has any impact on the chemistry of the water contained therein.

But I like to pride myself on being somewhat politically aware, so I will dutifully report to the polling station tonight after work and cast my vote for whom I believe will be the best qualified. Or at least the least felonious individual in the bunch.

Having said all that, and tending to fall in with the politically cynical, it gives me great pride to walk into a pollilng booth, cast a vote without a single person applying undue pressure or a single person knowing of my choice. Contrast that with one of the last elections in Iraq before the war, where it was reported that 100% of the nation voted for Saddam. In this context, it becomes crystal clear to me that as cynical as I am, and as flawed as we Americans are, we still do it better than anywhere else on God's green Earth. And I am proud to be a small part of the process, no matter how statistically insignificant I may be. I can be proud of the fact that for each of us in the United States, our statistical impact may be small, but it's not zero as it is in many, less fortunate places in the world.

I have seen and lived in other places around the world, but right here -- here in my flawed, polarized, media saturated, hydrogenated, caffeinated nation -- just ain't so bad.

Dan
[/b]

You vote and pee in the pool? Me too! Yay Virginians!

[tleonhar]

Just finishing up a 24hour stint, heading home now and will vote as soon as I get there.

[Warwind]

I voted, first thing this morning. No waiting at my polling place.