Disgusting Polling

It’s time to talk about Tuesday’s election. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and this has been boiling under the surface for a while. I’ve not been able to actually put it into words until (hopefully) now. Less than 40% of the country turned out to vote on Tuesday. That 40% changed the balance of power in this country, leading the way for a far-right President and his friends in Congress to implement their programs with little to no real resistance from the woefully disorganized Democrats.

Why do we stand for this? Why don’t more people get involved? I don’t know for sure because I haven’t talked to everyone about it. I think it may be that no one thinks they can make a difference. It’s because nothing said by the candidates or elected officials in our country speaks to them and motivates them to make their voice heard. The fact that less than half of those eligible use their one real voice is a disgrace.

The fact that we reelected the vast majority of representatives in both houses who since the last election voted against Congressional term limits and gave themselves a pay raise just amazes me.

Instead of blaming people, our culture, our politicians, I’m going to try and find a way to fix it. How do we get more people involved in the political process? How we get those eligible voters who feel they’re either not represented or don’t see the connection between who represents them and the effects of the votes those representatives make on their daily lives. How? We start a revolution. Ok, put down your pitchforks and torches. I don’t mean that kind of revolution. Ever since the 2000 presidential election, I’ve been thinking about the possibility of a viable third party in American politics. I think it’s time.

What would this party be called? I don’t really care. What would it stand for? I’m not sure, but it should be centrist/left, supporting things like rational gun control, the absolute separation of church and state (if you want to pray while you’re at school, peachy keen, go right ahead, but we don’t need a moment of silence before class. if you need to pray during school, fine, set up a special room for those who need it, but no more ‘prayer in school’ laws), a logical and fact-based discussion of our nation’s drug, foreign and welfare policies, support public schools and advocate honest dealing with foreign nations. Yeah, it’s a tall order and everything’s up for discussion.

I’m not really going to start a political party. I’m not charismatic or enthusiastic enough. I hope someone else does. I’d support it because I’m disgusted with the two parties I have to choose from. The Republicans prey on the God-fearing and crazy, leading them on with the promise to overturn Roe v Wade, keep the liberal freaks who want to take their guns away and create some law that will bring God back into school in order to keep getting elected and keep feeding the bank accounts of themselves and their big business patrons. The Democrats have lost the middle and their message and are an incoherent mess. They’ve decided that they can’t fight the President and are still so shocked they lost the 2000 Election and now the Senate, it may be decades before they recover.

See, it really is time for a third party. Who wants to start it?