I Suck At Election Day

Yesterday was Election Day. Too bad I suck at Election Day. If there is one thing that I dislike as much, if not more than religion, it is politics. Nevertheless, I do my part and vote. After all, voting is the symbol of American freedom.

Truthfully, I find that statement about voting and American freedom somewhat peculiar because if you were a woman before 1920, or a black person in the South before 1964's Civil Rights Act, you really couldn't vote. Since America has been around for over 230 years and it was not about until 140 years after the Declaration of Independence that women were allowed to vote, that is good percentage of America's existence where voting was really not free. Yet voting is the symbol of American freedom.

Anyway, yesterday was the first time our baby daughter (Briana) got to experience Election Day. I'm sure she was thrilled watching her mommy and daddy cast their ballots at the polls. That was sarcasm. Of course, when she gets older I will probably be a little more "Rah rah, yay politics!" Similar to my feelings about Halloween, I don't want her to be jaded or disenchanted with the notion.

Don't get me wrong. This country is awesome and is rich in history. Unfortunately, I see our current political system as being broken. I suppose if I were to use an analogy, I would say our two party political system of Republicans and Democrats is like Coke and Pepsi. You either endorse one or the other, and all you really do is watch the two compete to get your vote (money) and be the leader. Smaller soft drink companies don't even stand a chance at being top dog.

And when you think about it, both options are bad for you. After all, neither Coke nor Pepsi can be considered a healthy snack. Nevertheless, you have to choose the lesser of two evils. I feel this is how it is with our political system. Regardless of whoever gets elected, politics is politics. Perhaps I am just jaded.

I sometimes wonder if the political figures in our history books were really as amazing as they were, or if there were some creative liberties taken in retelling the history. I just cannot see any political figure today being as admirable as many of the political figures from the past.

Again, that's just my opinion. Hopefully Briana will be less disenchanted when she grows up.