Did you know that four out of the first six presidents were members of the Democratic-Republican political party? (The two exceptions being Washington, who obviously had no party and Adams (#2), who was a Federalist.) Did you know the Whig party was formed – and held office several times – as opposition to the newly formed Democratic party? Their chief mission being the “opposition to tyranny.” Did you know Abraham Lincoln was a Republican (after abandoning the Whigs prior to them going defunct)?
Why am I asking this?
Because I hate…no, detest, loathe, abhor…the fact that “we, the people” allow ourselves to be led around on leashes by two political parties.
According to the polls, the majority of Americans are either Republicans or Democrats. You, that are currently reading this, are one of two types of people. Do you believe that bullshit? That there are only two types of people in the world? Of course you don’t.
So here is my plea…
Do not listen to advertisements that tell you how bad the other candidate is. Make them tell you how great THEY are. What THEY are going to do for you, for the country.
Stop putting labels on things and look at what they stand for.
Don’t give up on the underdogs. You don’t have to vote for Romney OR Obama. There are other candidates. You are NOT throwing away your vote when you tell the government that they are no longer representing your best interests. You are throwing away your vote when you cast a ballot for the person you think is going to win. I so firmly believe this it makes me want to smack people!
Yes, you might actually be 100% behind one of the two main candidates, but that doesn’t mean your friend that disagrees with you is an idiot, so stop telling them that. (Refer back to my earlier paragraph about there being more than two types of people in the world.)
Here is what I know. The office of the President of the United States is a sacred position, deserving the respect of any of us that still “hold these truths to be self-evident” no matter who wins. It also deserves the respect of the person seeking to obtain it. I don’t want a Jersey Shore celebrity. I want a statesman. (And yes, that can be a woman.)
When nothing is owed, deserved, or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected.
If you’re loved by someone you’ll never reject it.
Decide what to be and go be it.
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Excellent points. I do wish that a strong, electable third-party candidate would emerge. In fact, I'm a little surprised that Ron Paul didn't break from the Republican party that so clearly wants nothing to do with him and run as an independent. I can't tell you how many young people who were so excited about Obama in 2008 were praising Paul four years later.
ReplyDeletePersonally I wouldn't vote for him either way. But it illustrates your point that there are more than two options. At least there should be.
I agree. I don't know why Paul sticks it out with the Republicans other than he thinks he has to declare one of the two parties to get any votes. I actually liked him, too. Until he said something entirely off the wall after a debate for the Republican nomination (I can't remember what it was anymore).
ReplyDeleteA surefire way to throw a vote away is to not cast a vote at all, which I was actually contemplating doing this year--until I read your post. Thank you for slapping some sense into me. I am pretty sure I could hear "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" playing in the background by the time I got to your final paragraph, which I would like to enlarge, print, and post in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing Mrs. Gatz was your FHS government teacher? I sure hope she's still teaching.
Yes, she was my government teacher and the reason I was a political science major.
ReplyDelete