dampscribbler: (Default)
dampscribbler ([personal profile] dampscribbler) wrote2004-02-18 09:55 am

A concern

I called my mother in Wisconsin last night.

"Did you vote? Who did you vote for?" I said.

"No, I didn't vote."

"What? Howcome?"

"Oh. Well,"

Oh my God, I thought. She's going to tell me she's registered as a Republican.

She said: "I couldn't decide between Kerry and Edwards."

"Oh," I said.

"Gilmore Girls is on," she said.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about central time," I said. "I'll call you later in the week, we'll chat."

"Okay, bye."


People, I'm really really really concerned that my parents, or my in-laws in Ohio, or, God forbid, both, will vote for Bush this year. I already know, though I don't want to, that my in-laws voted for Bush in 2000. I need to understand what would make a person do such a thing. I need to understand what would convince a person that this country and this world will be vastly better off with almost ANYONE else leading. I need to be able to convince people like my in-laws, my cousins, my aunts and uncles, to turn this nation from the dangerous political and economic track it's traveling by ousting our current dangerous administration in the safe, legal way we are guaranteed by our constitution - by voting, once.

And, I would like our elections overseen by the UN. But that's another concern.

[identity profile] tamyranev.livejournal.com 2004-02-19 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I feel your pain. On a recent visit my brother-in-law revealed that he's a Republican and he thinks Bush is doing just fine. I found this incomprehensible but I avoided arguing with him. I have a couple of friends who are similarly misguided.

I guess there's not much you can do about these poor confused souls except urge more liberals to vote. ;-)

As for the UN... Americans don't even want to let the UN govern our actions toward other countries, let alone govern the elections in this one.

Re:

[identity profile] dampscribbler.livejournal.com 2004-02-19 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
It's hard to hold my tongue when someone says Bush is "doing a good job" or "isn't that bad." I'm contemplating a trip to visit family in the midwest soon, and I'm afraid I might say something to tick off most of my relatives. I'm not the type of person who ever feels fully prepared to take on big subjects like politics, especially in conversation. It's a double-edged sword: it keeps me from talking about things I might not be able to follow through on, but on the other hand, I miss opportunities to educate people who might need to know more.

Of course, there are some folks (my 87-year-old grandmother) who will vote Republican for ever and ever because voting for a Democrat would be unthinkable. I'll not bother trying to change her mind. :-)