As I’m writing this, it’s voting day here in America. It’s been a particularly contentious election year, even more so than the last two. And, yes, there is a reason for that. I may or may not get into that later.
Before I get into the litany of reasons I am so frustrated with the state of politics in Ameria, let me say the one positive. I was stoked to vote for the first African American/South Asian American woman to run for president. I did not think I’d see it in my lifetime. And I’m happy to vote for Coach Walz for VP as well.
Other than that, though, it’s all bullshit.
First of all, America should not be a country. We are just too big and disaparate to operate as one entity. Secondly, we gave way too much power to the Southern states in order to entice them to give up slavery. In addition, the president can get away with anything short of murder (and not even sure about that) because we have set it up so that we take it on faith that the president will do what they think is best for the country and not just for themself.
All that went down the shitter when Trump first ran for president. He didn’t abide by the gentleman’s agreement (hell, he didn’t even know it existed) because he’s incapable of caring for anyone other than himself.
We need some rules, yo. I’ve talked about this with friends and my brother. We can’t just have this unwritten rules bullshit because there will always be someone who will exploit it for their own good–especially now. Trump broke the facade, and we can never go back again. I’m not sure we should.
The problem is that in thinking how to improve things, I got hit with an immediate snag. There should be some qualifications! Well, yes, but what? Maybe that a person had held a position before. Didn’t have to be current, and it didn’t have to be federal, but any position? Was that too elitist? I’m not sure we don’t want to have a baseline for politicians. For some reason, Oprah’s name was floated around. I don’t want her as president! Being immensely likable is not a qualification for being president. For fuck’s sake.
My brother floated IQ. I shot that down. I am also not OK with no felony charge beacuse of how racist and shoddy our police system is. I hope it’s obvious why I’m not for IQ, either.
But then, what do I think it should be? Should someone have to pass the citizenship test? I mean, having a basic knowledge of the country would be a good thing. But if we get down into the weeds, should they know all fifty states and capitals? Who the current mayor of each city is? Or governor of the state?
Should they have to have community involvement? Love animals? Good to indigent folks? I don’t know. That’s the problem. I know the system is broken, but I don’t have any good suggestions to fix it. Well, my suggestion is to break it further. We are not one country under anything, and we’re only becoming more divided by the minute.
I look at the America as desired by those on the right, and I don’t want that at all. I look at the ideal version of the lefty America, and it’s colorful, diverse, flavorful, and creative. I have pointed this out to a few of my friends, and they agree. Of course they would. I also mentioned that me doing NaNoWriMo was in part a rebellion against what is happening in America. I am being me–queer/bisexual, agender, fat, areligious, etc., unapologetically so; I’m exactly what the right hates.
The last eight years have shown me an ugly side of America–well, rather, have constantly exposed me to the ugly side of America. It’s always been there. I’ve always known it. I was telling my brother that one of the frustrations of being a minority in several ways was that the Democrats felt no need to woo me. They knew I had no other option, so they took my vote for granted. It was frustrating to see them run after the cishetwhitemenz who will never, ever love them back.
I’ve always been a lefty and what some people would consider a radical. Well, many people. I am very progressive, more so than even Bernie Sanders in some ways. And yet, I know that’s not how the real world works and that we have to make some concessions. The question is how many, how far, and how often. My biggest complaint as a Dem is how quickly the Dems cave without getting any concessions from the Republicans. The latter are very good at toeing the line and not giving an inch. They are also really good at messaging, which has been a big frustration of mine.
People are not apt/capable/wanting to look at nuance. Dems tend to go on and on, taking pains to explain every little detail. Republicans, on the other hand, are definitive and seemingly forthright. They may be lying through their teeth, but they say everything with conviction. And they speak to their believers’ base instinct. Many people who have abhorrent views believe that everyone secretly feels the same way, but just aren’t brave enough to say it out loud.
And every year that Trump is in the spotlight, it just gets worse. Because they are validated. And they are surrounded by people who believe the same. Of course, that’s the same on our side as well–but our side is better. We just are. Both sides, blah di blah, but know this. In general, our side is not about restricting people from living their lives. Notice, I said their own goddamn fucking lives. This is the point I want to hammer over and over again. For the most part, liberals aren’t trying to tell people how to live their lives on the daily. Yes, we want people to pay taxes to help society in general. But as far as what people want to do in their own lives that does not harm other people–have the fuck at it!
This is the stumbling/sticking point for them. They want to dictate how everyone lives. Christian, straight, no abortions, no homo, etc. It’s about dominance and it’s about a rigidity that I cannot understand. And fear. A fear of the other. Fear leads to hatred which leads to violence. And I am not exaggerating.
It’s nearly 6:30 p.m. on election night. This is going to be one hell of a night.