There are Somali pirates currently holding millions of dollars... or rather, hundreds of millions of dollars... in cargo ships at the moment. They are demanding $10 million in ransom. And there remains little the international community can do. If they accede to the ransom, that sets the precedent for doing so with others (or the same ones) in the future. If nothing is done, then the pirates keep the loot (including $100 million worth of Saudi oil) and are free to continue their piracy without much fear of retribution.
This is a bad situation. However, it's being further hindered by International Human Rights Law. This article lays it out better than I will... but basically protecting against piracy in the last century has severely dwindled (especially in the last 10 years) because trying pirates at NATO supported military tribunals infringes upon the pirates' rights. This is why International Human Rights Law is completely idiotic. I'm all about universal human rights, but they should not prevent criminals from being tried - either abroad or on U.S. soil. When international "laws" that are so ambiguous and willy-nillily enforced that there can hardly be called a precedent fail to allow the capture and prosecution of pirates, terrorists, etc. then the spirit of the law fails. Absolutely. This is not reasonable and it detracts from the original purpose of the "laws" themselves which further fosters an environment in which these criminals can freely operate.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
A Confession
I hate the movie Citizen Kane. Yes, that Citizen Kane. The one that is typically placed number one on the top 100 lists of movies of all time... or at the very least in the top 10. I figure that I do enough political, societal, and economic ranting and decided to expand my horizons. To those who know me best, there is no surprise when a rant begins about anything that might be conceived as stupid. Stupid books. Stupid restaurants. Stupid people (of course.) Stupid behaviors (of people, businesses, government, animals, etc.) Stupid customs (see, I also don't discriminate based on religious, cultural, or geospatial influences either.) Stupid research. Stupid philosophies. Stupid and inappropriate commercials about medical or personal hygiene products. Stupid uses of resources. You get the idea.
So, why Citizen Kane?
I first watched this film only a few months ago after hearing about it for years. No one could ever describe to me what was so wonderful about it, but I figured it must be good. After all, people for years have heralded it as the greatest film ever made, so, really how could it be bad? And, it's not like I don't appreciate a classic film every now and again. I'm by no means a classic movie aficionado, but I certainly enjoy most standards. I also love Woody Allen films (which aren't classic, but are certainly artistic and provocative in many cases.) Among our collection of over 250 movies, I don't own a Woody Allen film. Probably because I would never turn it off and proceed to become a pompous, head-up-my-ass, miscreant. The same goes for any book by Walker Percy. The intellectual fervor they cultivate is great in the moment, but I believe should only be taken in small doses to prevent oneself from taking on the persona of Socrates in The Clouds.
I was hoping that Citizen Kane would have this same effect... or at least have a good, character-driven plot that wonderfully cultivated intrigue in the resolution of the story. Maybe I would have been less disappointed if I had studied Hearst more beforehand, or read the synopsis online. However, despite being somewhat interested in who Rosebud was, I hated the film. It was coarse and left a bitter taste in my mouth. I can stand watching films that don't end happily, but still were a work of art or probed an important question. After all, there is not comedy without its tragic counterpart. But this was just ugly and below depressing. In ways, it showed the ugliest parts of human nature, society, business, journalism, family relations, and government. Maybe that was its brilliance. Yet, it also showed none of the redeeming qualities. In the end, you were sickened by Kane, and would have felt bad for him never returning to his family and experiencing more good memories of which Rosebud was emblematic, except he had become so despicable it just made his life all the more worthless. With all he had "achieved" in his life including his [unfinished] home and its museum of beautiful possessions, all he ever cared about was his rosebud sled that he hasn't used since he was a boy. Many people experience tragedy and separation from loved ones or their home environments, yet still can love and value their lives. Not Kane.
Maybe I just hated it because Kane's character is an affront to every value I hold dear - in life and art - or maybe because if this film is what critics and the masses have deemed to be the "best" of all time then human nature is more ugly that I care to believe. And, while there certainly are people like Kane in the world, I'd like to think their numbers are few and should not be celebrated.
This does not mean that I think art in any form should be censored or that Orson Welles should not have made Citizen Kane. And, while I still would not personally like the film, I would hesitate to disparage it so greatly if it was not consistently deemed the best.
So, film critics and movie aficionados out there, why am I wrong? What am I missing about this supposedly great film? It could be that the topic was so harsh that I missed something vital, so I would love to learn why my opinion differs so vastly from the masses.
So, why Citizen Kane?
I first watched this film only a few months ago after hearing about it for years. No one could ever describe to me what was so wonderful about it, but I figured it must be good. After all, people for years have heralded it as the greatest film ever made, so, really how could it be bad? And, it's not like I don't appreciate a classic film every now and again. I'm by no means a classic movie aficionado, but I certainly enjoy most standards. I also love Woody Allen films (which aren't classic, but are certainly artistic and provocative in many cases.) Among our collection of over 250 movies, I don't own a Woody Allen film. Probably because I would never turn it off and proceed to become a pompous, head-up-my-ass, miscreant. The same goes for any book by Walker Percy. The intellectual fervor they cultivate is great in the moment, but I believe should only be taken in small doses to prevent oneself from taking on the persona of Socrates in The Clouds.
I was hoping that Citizen Kane would have this same effect... or at least have a good, character-driven plot that wonderfully cultivated intrigue in the resolution of the story. Maybe I would have been less disappointed if I had studied Hearst more beforehand, or read the synopsis online. However, despite being somewhat interested in who Rosebud was, I hated the film. It was coarse and left a bitter taste in my mouth. I can stand watching films that don't end happily, but still were a work of art or probed an important question. After all, there is not comedy without its tragic counterpart. But this was just ugly and below depressing. In ways, it showed the ugliest parts of human nature, society, business, journalism, family relations, and government. Maybe that was its brilliance. Yet, it also showed none of the redeeming qualities. In the end, you were sickened by Kane, and would have felt bad for him never returning to his family and experiencing more good memories of which Rosebud was emblematic, except he had become so despicable it just made his life all the more worthless. With all he had "achieved" in his life including his [unfinished] home and its museum of beautiful possessions, all he ever cared about was his rosebud sled that he hasn't used since he was a boy. Many people experience tragedy and separation from loved ones or their home environments, yet still can love and value their lives. Not Kane.
Maybe I just hated it because Kane's character is an affront to every value I hold dear - in life and art - or maybe because if this film is what critics and the masses have deemed to be the "best" of all time then human nature is more ugly that I care to believe. And, while there certainly are people like Kane in the world, I'd like to think their numbers are few and should not be celebrated.
This does not mean that I think art in any form should be censored or that Orson Welles should not have made Citizen Kane. And, while I still would not personally like the film, I would hesitate to disparage it so greatly if it was not consistently deemed the best.
So, film critics and movie aficionados out there, why am I wrong? What am I missing about this supposedly great film? It could be that the topic was so harsh that I missed something vital, so I would love to learn why my opinion differs so vastly from the masses.
Friday, November 14, 2008
What A Rant
I've been working up a rant (big surprise) about the election, American political thought (among the masses, not academics. There's an alarming gap between the two on both sides of the spectrum and they deserve different treatments), and what the hell happened to the conservatives in America? I happen to have a slightly different definition of conservatism than many who call themselves conservatives, but the discussion of that definition is for another day... or at least its own post.
However, my fellow contributor came across P.J. O'Rourke's rant that is featured in The Weekly Standard. After reading this rant, I feel speechless because I honestly am not sure if I'm capable of writing anything that is as angry and dripping with sarcasm as this article. For the most part, I think he's accurate, even if crude. I'm sure over the next 4 years that my frustration will rise to a point that many political/societal rants will be expressed in this blog, yet for this moment O'Rourke's is enough for me. And, I'm sure countless more people listen to him than will even listen to me, so I'll save it for now.
Part of the political idealism I continue to suppress in myself daily rises when I strategize on how to help reform the American political make-up that surely will occur in the coming decade. Then, reality strikes, and I remember that this is no superficial problem. If people's fundamental views of what government is, what its reasonable abilities are, and what they can reasonably expect to receive from a proper constitutional government do not change, then there is no point. And, frankly, I'm much more willing to spend my time improving my career and socking away money so that if the worst case scenario is ushered in with the help of the Dems in 2009, at least I won't have to worry about where my rent is coming from.
I just wish that they [our illustrious government representatives] didn't have so much power at their disposal to enact policies to promote "change." Maybe at the end of the day this is why I am a conservative - I certainly want a kind of change that is positive. For example, I would be incredibly happy if the Dow ceases fluctuating as much in a day as in the past is has in a year. I like change that is stabilizing. But, I don't want it to come from government initiatives that are likely to do more harm than good because the Dems have just been handed their Thanksgiving feast 3 weeks early. Cornucopias never run out, right? This abundance of power may not run out for at least 4 years either, but who knows what will lie in its wake. And, as much as I want to be optimistic, it's hard when I know that these representatives may genuinely care about "fixing America's problems," but do not fundamentally understand the role of American constitutional government or a free market economy. Or, even better, if they do understand them, they reject them. And, that is a philosophical view I will not ever accept.
If I'm ambitious enough, I will post a series of entries on FDR and his policies including the New Deal. These will illustrate my disdain for the impending political actions being discussed by the transition team, including executive orders being ushered out on Obama's inauguration day, and the historical basis that shapes my views. It may not be riveting stuff, but has profoundly affected my views and think it might do the same for others especially in light of the current economic and political shifts that have occurred in America this year.
However, my fellow contributor came across P.J. O'Rourke's rant that is featured in The Weekly Standard. After reading this rant, I feel speechless because I honestly am not sure if I'm capable of writing anything that is as angry and dripping with sarcasm as this article. For the most part, I think he's accurate, even if crude. I'm sure over the next 4 years that my frustration will rise to a point that many political/societal rants will be expressed in this blog, yet for this moment O'Rourke's is enough for me. And, I'm sure countless more people listen to him than will even listen to me, so I'll save it for now.
Part of the political idealism I continue to suppress in myself daily rises when I strategize on how to help reform the American political make-up that surely will occur in the coming decade. Then, reality strikes, and I remember that this is no superficial problem. If people's fundamental views of what government is, what its reasonable abilities are, and what they can reasonably expect to receive from a proper constitutional government do not change, then there is no point. And, frankly, I'm much more willing to spend my time improving my career and socking away money so that if the worst case scenario is ushered in with the help of the Dems in 2009, at least I won't have to worry about where my rent is coming from.
I just wish that they [our illustrious government representatives] didn't have so much power at their disposal to enact policies to promote "change." Maybe at the end of the day this is why I am a conservative - I certainly want a kind of change that is positive. For example, I would be incredibly happy if the Dow ceases fluctuating as much in a day as in the past is has in a year. I like change that is stabilizing. But, I don't want it to come from government initiatives that are likely to do more harm than good because the Dems have just been handed their Thanksgiving feast 3 weeks early. Cornucopias never run out, right? This abundance of power may not run out for at least 4 years either, but who knows what will lie in its wake. And, as much as I want to be optimistic, it's hard when I know that these representatives may genuinely care about "fixing America's problems," but do not fundamentally understand the role of American constitutional government or a free market economy. Or, even better, if they do understand them, they reject them. And, that is a philosophical view I will not ever accept.
If I'm ambitious enough, I will post a series of entries on FDR and his policies including the New Deal. These will illustrate my disdain for the impending political actions being discussed by the transition team, including executive orders being ushered out on Obama's inauguration day, and the historical basis that shapes my views. It may not be riveting stuff, but has profoundly affected my views and think it might do the same for others especially in light of the current economic and political shifts that have occurred in America this year.
Monday, November 10, 2008
There Has to Be a Better Way
This weekend provided a milestone for me: purchasing my first brand new car. It's a 2009 Honda Fit Sport (in silver and without the navigation system.) The Honda website for the Fit is great... you can check it out here.
I love this car. It has everything I need (and almost everything I want) in a vehicle: good torque, fast brakes, comfortable interior, sharp exterior, an iPod/MP3 player hookup in the dashboard compartment, awesome seat configurations so that you can fit almost anything under 8 ft. long and 4 ft. high in the car while still being a sub-compact size, and it meets the ultra-low emissions standards (even hybrids are only marginally more emissions efficient than this vehicle.) It also gets 33 mpg (highway) with an automatic transmission which I view to be essential driving in Atlanta traffic (it does have paddle shifters though - so if you really want to take advantage of the sport capabilities it is easy to do so.) And for those of you who want a great little car that is still kid-friendly, the back seats and seat belts are specifically designed to comfortably accomodate child car seats. (This is certainly not our focus for many years, but since it's a Honda we figure it might last 7 years at which point it might be a consideration.)
So, what's the problem... other than old people who keep trying to run into me because they can't see my small car in their giant boat's mirrors? Well, let's just say that the purchasing process was perhaps one of the most horrible experiences of my life. I'll begin by disclosing that this dealership only sold 5 cars on Saturday (before the whole credit crisis, auto-industry turmoil they would average at least 5 times that many) and that they almost didn't sell this one either. You see, car salesmen don't appreciate young, business savvy, well-researched, thrifty buyers. When we walked in with our spreadsheet that outlined the invoice cost of the vehicle, MSRP (which we had no problem paying), the cheapest HondaCare extended warranty out there that was offered by a dealership in Connecticut, and the BlueBook value of my trade in in addition to having arranged our own financing which was a point lower than market interest rates they were "shocked." The primary salesmen said that we stumped him... which he assures us never happens. They were even more "stumped" that we weren't willing to budge on our values. There were several times at different intervals when we stood up, began walking out, and were stopped by someone higher- up (the Sales Manager and the Finance Manager) who was willing to negotiate with us further. This process went on for 4 1/2 hours. And, the last time we almost walked out, we had been there over 3 hours and were back in the Financing Department. At that point, I was willing to never buy a car and just pray that mine held out long enough until we move closer to better public transit. In the end, we conceded some of the value of my trade in while they cut the add-ons a few hundred dollars and found us an interest rate lower than the one we brought in. Our monthly payment is $2 more than we went in willing to pay (due to a better deal on GAP insurance through our loan issuer.) Therefore, this was a successful deal in our minds and the dealership still made plenty of money although not as much as they had originally hoped.
What I gained from this experience was my own shock at how absolutely appalling all the salespeople were - and we had "nice" ones. Please. If I walked into a restaurant and was treated that way I would demand that my meal be comped. So, why do car salesmen continue to treat their clients so poorly and why is the car buying experience so terrible? Because the salespeople drastically increase their own commissions by throwing more crap you don't need into the vehicle you want or by devaluing your trade-in. This process is well explained in this expose' on Edmunds.com. If you are ever in the market for a new or used car from a dealership I strongly recommend reading this article because is outlines the exact behavior of the car salesman... from the rudeness to them forcing you to wait around in uncomfortable chairs just so that they have the "power" in the transaction to them actually putting you on an intercom so that the sales and finance managers can listen to your private conversations while they are making you wait (I strongly recommend bringing a tablet of paper so that you can write-down your real thoughts while re-directing the listeners through your conversation.)
The whole process is absolutely despicable in my opinion and I don't understand why there isn't a better way of doing this. Instead of making your clients squirm, why not make them feel comfortable and at ease with the situation? Never in my life have I been more on my toes in a negotation or been more of an arrogant jerk myself just to survive the process with any kind of personally desirable outcome. And, it's not like this negotation was a battle of wits in the traditional sense. I don't think there was a person in that whole dealership who was more intelligent than us, yet they emitted an air of superiority merely by the fact that they held the item we wanted hostage and without their "cooperation" we were going home sad and empty-handed. I've heard that when you start buying luxury vehicles this does not happen because the salespeople know that if the buyers aren't catered to they will just leave. I've vowed to never buy a new car again until I can comfortably afford at least an entry-level luxury vehicle.
Our research, stubborness, and understanding of game theory resulted in our vehicle victory, yet when transaction was complete we were forced to sit there an additional 30 minutes or so by the managers reminding us to "spread the word" about our experience (which they assured us was a pleasant one) because "word of mouth" is the best sales driver. Seriously? Buying that car made me feel so awful that despite having a brand new car I still feel a little dirty about the whole thing.
Other than playing hardball and researching the tricks of the car selling trade, I have not further advice for future car purchasers. However, to car salesmen: I learned a lesson once several years ago that I will take with me the rest of my life. I was flying out to Seattle for a conference after which I was flying to Oklahoma for a graduate school interview. I was running a little late and got stuck in Atlanta traffic on the way to the airport (big surprise, huh?). I managed to get to the ticket counter 40 minutes, not the required 45 before my flight departed and they wouldn't let me go through. I was beside myself because I couldn't afford to re-book either ticket and they had no obligation to put me on a later flight because I failed to check-in on time. Well, the guy in front of me was being a complete a**hole, so I decided to plead for help. The airport attendant took pity on me and allowed me to pay a $50 re-booking fee and said I could try to fly stand-by on the next available flight (which left 8 hours later.) She did not have to do this for me, but she said that I was so nice that she was willing to help me out even though she technically was not supposed to. I waited around until that flight and made it on. So, while I don't have a problem playing hardball to get what I want, I prefer to be nice. And, the most successful people I've met share the same opinion. In my experience, the higher title (or more experience) a business person has, they nicer they are. The love their jobs, are good at them, and like working with people. Most along the way learned that playing nice in the sandbox actually gets you farther than causing a mass exodus by starting a sand-throwing fight.
Car salesmen would greatly benefit from the same wisdom.
I love this car. It has everything I need (and almost everything I want) in a vehicle: good torque, fast brakes, comfortable interior, sharp exterior, an iPod/MP3 player hookup in the dashboard compartment, awesome seat configurations so that you can fit almost anything under 8 ft. long and 4 ft. high in the car while still being a sub-compact size, and it meets the ultra-low emissions standards (even hybrids are only marginally more emissions efficient than this vehicle.) It also gets 33 mpg (highway) with an automatic transmission which I view to be essential driving in Atlanta traffic (it does have paddle shifters though - so if you really want to take advantage of the sport capabilities it is easy to do so.) And for those of you who want a great little car that is still kid-friendly, the back seats and seat belts are specifically designed to comfortably accomodate child car seats. (This is certainly not our focus for many years, but since it's a Honda we figure it might last 7 years at which point it might be a consideration.)
So, what's the problem... other than old people who keep trying to run into me because they can't see my small car in their giant boat's mirrors? Well, let's just say that the purchasing process was perhaps one of the most horrible experiences of my life. I'll begin by disclosing that this dealership only sold 5 cars on Saturday (before the whole credit crisis, auto-industry turmoil they would average at least 5 times that many) and that they almost didn't sell this one either. You see, car salesmen don't appreciate young, business savvy, well-researched, thrifty buyers. When we walked in with our spreadsheet that outlined the invoice cost of the vehicle, MSRP (which we had no problem paying), the cheapest HondaCare extended warranty out there that was offered by a dealership in Connecticut, and the BlueBook value of my trade in in addition to having arranged our own financing which was a point lower than market interest rates they were "shocked." The primary salesmen said that we stumped him... which he assures us never happens. They were even more "stumped" that we weren't willing to budge on our values. There were several times at different intervals when we stood up, began walking out, and were stopped by someone higher- up (the Sales Manager and the Finance Manager) who was willing to negotiate with us further. This process went on for 4 1/2 hours. And, the last time we almost walked out, we had been there over 3 hours and were back in the Financing Department. At that point, I was willing to never buy a car and just pray that mine held out long enough until we move closer to better public transit. In the end, we conceded some of the value of my trade in while they cut the add-ons a few hundred dollars and found us an interest rate lower than the one we brought in. Our monthly payment is $2 more than we went in willing to pay (due to a better deal on GAP insurance through our loan issuer.) Therefore, this was a successful deal in our minds and the dealership still made plenty of money although not as much as they had originally hoped.
What I gained from this experience was my own shock at how absolutely appalling all the salespeople were - and we had "nice" ones. Please. If I walked into a restaurant and was treated that way I would demand that my meal be comped. So, why do car salesmen continue to treat their clients so poorly and why is the car buying experience so terrible? Because the salespeople drastically increase their own commissions by throwing more crap you don't need into the vehicle you want or by devaluing your trade-in. This process is well explained in this expose' on Edmunds.com. If you are ever in the market for a new or used car from a dealership I strongly recommend reading this article because is outlines the exact behavior of the car salesman... from the rudeness to them forcing you to wait around in uncomfortable chairs just so that they have the "power" in the transaction to them actually putting you on an intercom so that the sales and finance managers can listen to your private conversations while they are making you wait (I strongly recommend bringing a tablet of paper so that you can write-down your real thoughts while re-directing the listeners through your conversation.)
The whole process is absolutely despicable in my opinion and I don't understand why there isn't a better way of doing this. Instead of making your clients squirm, why not make them feel comfortable and at ease with the situation? Never in my life have I been more on my toes in a negotation or been more of an arrogant jerk myself just to survive the process with any kind of personally desirable outcome. And, it's not like this negotation was a battle of wits in the traditional sense. I don't think there was a person in that whole dealership who was more intelligent than us, yet they emitted an air of superiority merely by the fact that they held the item we wanted hostage and without their "cooperation" we were going home sad and empty-handed. I've heard that when you start buying luxury vehicles this does not happen because the salespeople know that if the buyers aren't catered to they will just leave. I've vowed to never buy a new car again until I can comfortably afford at least an entry-level luxury vehicle.
Our research, stubborness, and understanding of game theory resulted in our vehicle victory, yet when transaction was complete we were forced to sit there an additional 30 minutes or so by the managers reminding us to "spread the word" about our experience (which they assured us was a pleasant one) because "word of mouth" is the best sales driver. Seriously? Buying that car made me feel so awful that despite having a brand new car I still feel a little dirty about the whole thing.
Other than playing hardball and researching the tricks of the car selling trade, I have not further advice for future car purchasers. However, to car salesmen: I learned a lesson once several years ago that I will take with me the rest of my life. I was flying out to Seattle for a conference after which I was flying to Oklahoma for a graduate school interview. I was running a little late and got stuck in Atlanta traffic on the way to the airport (big surprise, huh?). I managed to get to the ticket counter 40 minutes, not the required 45 before my flight departed and they wouldn't let me go through. I was beside myself because I couldn't afford to re-book either ticket and they had no obligation to put me on a later flight because I failed to check-in on time. Well, the guy in front of me was being a complete a**hole, so I decided to plead for help. The airport attendant took pity on me and allowed me to pay a $50 re-booking fee and said I could try to fly stand-by on the next available flight (which left 8 hours later.) She did not have to do this for me, but she said that I was so nice that she was willing to help me out even though she technically was not supposed to. I waited around until that flight and made it on. So, while I don't have a problem playing hardball to get what I want, I prefer to be nice. And, the most successful people I've met share the same opinion. In my experience, the higher title (or more experience) a business person has, they nicer they are. The love their jobs, are good at them, and like working with people. Most along the way learned that playing nice in the sandbox actually gets you farther than causing a mass exodus by starting a sand-throwing fight.
Car salesmen would greatly benefit from the same wisdom.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Voting is Not Your Civic Duty. It's a Right.
It's interesting how opinions change over time. For example, I could not wait until I was 18 and could vote. I bemoaned Bush's first term election because I had to sit idly by (being only 16 years old) and watch instead of voting for Al Gore. Now, I can't even think of Al Gore without busting out laughing (I mean really, have you seen the ManBearPig episode of South Park?)
So, things change. I exchanged my liberal stripes for "bi-partisan" ones in the 2004 election (meaning that I voted a split ticket, but didn't bother to mention where the split was.) I was still incredibly excited to vote though and drove 2 hours out of my way to do so - just so I could have the experience of going to the actual poll to vote for the presidency and senate.
However, in these last 4 years I've become more than disillusioned with anything political... I think the process is corrupt, that we've deviated so far from founding principles that an overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens have not even read the Bill of Rights let alone the entire Constitution, and that our national ideology is so skewed that it cannot begin to solve even the most pressing issues because people are unwilling to take responsibility and ascertain logical outcomes of their own behavior (which unfortunately often becomes aggregate behavior.)
A friend sent me an email this week outlining several prominent thinkers' reasons for not voting:
Don Boudreaux, Robert Lawson, and of course for comedy's sake, George Carlin. There are many others. Conversely, there are just as many if not more who advocate getting out to cast your vote. Reasons being it's historically important, it will make you feel good/strong/important/, it's your civic duty (how many times did I hear in college and in the news that other than jury duty voting is our only truly civic duty and even as a duty it's still a privilege which makes it even better!), and lastly it's a right.
However, I have to admit that I know my personal vote DOES NOT MATTER. My sitting at home on the couch while my countrymen vote will not alter the results. And, if I happen to be doing something that is more value-creating that sitting on the couch drumming up ad revenue for the TV station then my time was actually far better spent - for both me and America.
So, why am I going to drag myself to the polls to cast my measly, unimportant vote? Because it is my right and there happens to be a candidate who I actually like and respect - John McCain. I've always liked McCain... and even in the heyday of my personal liberality would have considered voting for him over Al Gore (assuming I was old enough.) I do not agree with him on everything, but I trust his judgment, character, and experience. I don't think there could be a better man running (although there are some women who are not in the race.) Even my overwhelming support of McCain is not reason enough for me to turn out to the polls.
My reason for voting: I was to preserve my fundamental right of citizenship as executed through voting. I do not think this is my duty. I think it's my right and therefore must be considered at least somewhat a privilege. Nothing will happen to me if I don't vote. My rights will not be infringed upon. However, I do think that the current political course of America is heading down a road that wants to restrict freedom and rights in lieu of perceived [domestic] safety and bailouts for those who could not exercise enough judgment to keep themselves out of personally harmful situations.
I also respect my great-grandmother who marched for my right to vote. I respect Hillary Clinton - and especially her Convention acknowledgement that her grandmother could not vote and that her daughter now had the opportunity to cast a vote to nominate her for the presidency. I respect the men and women to fight to preserve our rights and that those rights are founded in the Constitution and nowhere else. Personally, the only reason I think rights exist is because God created humanity and therefore everyone is equal in His eyes. However, that does not extend to the political (although it should and can.) Therefore, I am incredibly thankful that my governing document was changed to incorporate all adult citizens to vote in this country: male, female, black, white, young, old, rich, poor. And, I want to exercise my right because they are often taken for granted and I don't ever want to forget why I am privileged enough to have a right to vote and freely express my opinions.
So, don't vote because it's your duty or it's important. Vote because you want to actively exercise a right that you value. And, if you don't have the time, it's okay. Lucky for you, your citizenship does not depend on exercising your rights and the Constitution still protects them for you as long as it is upheld. My plea for voting day is to read the Constitution even if that means you don't have the time to make it to the polls. Read it. Learn from it. And never forget the fundamental precepts of our government because such knowledge is quickly fading.
So, things change. I exchanged my liberal stripes for "bi-partisan" ones in the 2004 election (meaning that I voted a split ticket, but didn't bother to mention where the split was.) I was still incredibly excited to vote though and drove 2 hours out of my way to do so - just so I could have the experience of going to the actual poll to vote for the presidency and senate.
However, in these last 4 years I've become more than disillusioned with anything political... I think the process is corrupt, that we've deviated so far from founding principles that an overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens have not even read the Bill of Rights let alone the entire Constitution, and that our national ideology is so skewed that it cannot begin to solve even the most pressing issues because people are unwilling to take responsibility and ascertain logical outcomes of their own behavior (which unfortunately often becomes aggregate behavior.)
A friend sent me an email this week outlining several prominent thinkers' reasons for not voting:
Don Boudreaux, Robert Lawson, and of course for comedy's sake, George Carlin. There are many others. Conversely, there are just as many if not more who advocate getting out to cast your vote. Reasons being it's historically important, it will make you feel good/strong/important/
However, I have to admit that I know my personal vote DOES NOT MATTER. My sitting at home on the couch while my countrymen vote will not alter the results. And, if I happen to be doing something that is more value-creating that sitting on the couch drumming up ad revenue for the TV station then my time was actually far better spent - for both me and America.
So, why am I going to drag myself to the polls to cast my measly, unimportant vote? Because it is my right and there happens to be a candidate who I actually like and respect - John McCain. I've always liked McCain... and even in the heyday of my personal liberality would have considered voting for him over Al Gore (assuming I was old enough.) I do not agree with him on everything, but I trust his judgment, character, and experience. I don't think there could be a better man running (although there are some women who are not in the race.) Even my overwhelming support of McCain is not reason enough for me to turn out to the polls.
My reason for voting: I was to preserve my fundamental right of citizenship as executed through voting. I do not think this is my duty. I think it's my right and therefore must be considered at least somewhat a privilege. Nothing will happen to me if I don't vote. My rights will not be infringed upon. However, I do think that the current political course of America is heading down a road that wants to restrict freedom and rights in lieu of perceived [domestic] safety and bailouts for those who could not exercise enough judgment to keep themselves out of personally harmful situations.
I also respect my great-grandmother who marched for my right to vote. I respect Hillary Clinton - and especially her Convention acknowledgement that her grandmother could not vote and that her daughter now had the opportunity to cast a vote to nominate her for the presidency. I respect the men and women to fight to preserve our rights and that those rights are founded in the Constitution and nowhere else. Personally, the only reason I think rights exist is because God created humanity and therefore everyone is equal in His eyes. However, that does not extend to the political (although it should and can.) Therefore, I am incredibly thankful that my governing document was changed to incorporate all adult citizens to vote in this country: male, female, black, white, young, old, rich, poor. And, I want to exercise my right because they are often taken for granted and I don't ever want to forget why I am privileged enough to have a right to vote and freely express my opinions.
So, don't vote because it's your duty or it's important. Vote because you want to actively exercise a right that you value. And, if you don't have the time, it's okay. Lucky for you, your citizenship does not depend on exercising your rights and the Constitution still protects them for you as long as it is upheld. My plea for voting day is to read the Constitution even if that means you don't have the time to make it to the polls. Read it. Learn from it. And never forget the fundamental precepts of our government because such knowledge is quickly fading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
