Since
moving to DC - the undisputed epicenter of U.S. politics - I would be
remiss if I didn't send a follow-up to my 2008 election-season email,
which if you remember, was a simple effort to encourage the
recipients to go out and vote, and not particularly one way or
another, but just to exercise their right to vote.
I
did that for a variety of reasons, but mostly, I sent that email
because for six years prior to sending it, I defended (and now, so
does my sister Erin) our right to vote. I am fairly certain
none of you need(ed) convincing from me, but I would be ashamed to
know that you did not exercise that right in 2008, so please don't
let me down next Tuesday.
For
my follow up this year (and what an incredible year it has been!), I'd
like to preface it by first stating that I sincerely understand
and truly support the difference in opinions going into this upcoming
election. Sure, that probably sounds all fine and dandy, but
let me explain why..
In
the last four years, I've talked with so many of you about
politics--local, state, federal and international--and what I've
found to be most common during the election season is that people
can't understand why someone would vote as a conservative (for
Romney) or as a liberal (for Obama) if there isn't a resounding
reason for doing so.
Now
I'll admit, I'm a registered Independent, which basically means I
vote issue by issue, candidate by candidate, and I don't proscribe to
party politics. If I was registered to vote in a state,
however, I'd give up my right to vote in the primaries, but in DC, we
don't vote in primary elections, so registering as an Independent is
safe (and smart). Otherwise, I would truly be giving up some of
the benefits of voting, which I will never do.
Your
voice is true power, and in U.S. politics, your vote--at
the minimum--is your voice.
Anyway,
getting back to my original point. The single greatest reason
why so many people agree to disagree during the general election
season is because they can't seem to figure out why people would vote
for their candidate. Why? It is because people just don't
want to take time to listen to the reasons why someone would vote for
the opposition. That is basically it, and that, to me, is the
sign of an ignorant voter.
As
I stated above, "I sincerely understand and truly support the
difference in opinions going into this upcoming election."
Well, I still do, but what I didn't say was that comes with a
caveat because I can only "sincerely understand and truly
support the difference in opinions" when you express them.
Personally,
I wouldn't want to vote knowing I hadn't heard from those closest to
me about how they will vote. Granted, I don't need to be
convinced to vote, duh. But, I would be
delighted to learn more about why you think your candidate would make
the better president.
Call
me undecided. Call me easily persuaded. I tell you what I
call it: Being open until calling it actually counts: Election Day
2012.
That's
the day you make the decision. Up until that point, be an open
book! And like they say, don't judge a book by its cover, so
be willing to hear arguments. Be willing to listen to
complaints. Make the candidates work for your vote because once
they get it, it's a whole different story.
Your
vote puts them where they need to be to carry through on their
promises (or not), so make sure you get all the information before
you cast your coveted vote.
Most
importantly, be willing to listen to reason.
To
that point, I recently came across an interesting source for why
people will be voting for Obama. Take it with a grain of salt
(salt takers, see #43 and #61), but I think you'll each find someone
you relate to from the 80+ people listed on the website, "90
Days, 90 Reasons," which can be found here:
Without
going into detail about the site (it really is self-explanatory), I
will say that more than 80 people have publicly stated on this
website their reason for voting for Obama.
The
simple thought of this website will be something many of you
overlook, cast aside or just plain scoff at, but I urge each of you
to take a moment to peruse the names and find someone you recognize,
respect and/or relate to, read their reason and then draw your own
conclusion. By doing that, you've at least acknowledged my ask
for 2012: Don't just vote, educate yourself on the issues,
the candidates and why people you love, respect and admire vote the
way they do. Then vote.
Get
educated, get registered and go vote. In that order. Please.
Signed,
Trevor
Sparks
P.S.
For all you Obama supporters, I suggest using a friendly and
fun website as your ammo in the days to come. It can be
found here.
