My apparent apathy with the current political campaigns...

:: warning  :: Political talk ahead. Bush lovers need not read :)

Many, many years ago, when I was young and idealistic, I loved politics. Before I could vote I had a "Women for Clinton" button and I wore it proudly. I went off to college with the intention of getting a degree in Political Science. Yes, I was brave enough to face a sea of conservative Christian students at Point Loma Nazarene College (it was still just a college when I went there). It was a learning experience. It certainly taught me what it felt like to be the lone fluffy rabbit in a forest filled with hungry wolves. My goal was to become the next George Stephanopolous.

See George think? See George work? I love George. He embodied youth in politics. He was clever and funny yet well spoken and impassioned. He made me want to be involved.

I had passion and hunger. I would debate my views; I would learn to listen to the other side. It was an ideal learning situation.

Even after college (where I did not receive my diploma because I liked going to the beach, sleeping in, and talking on the phone long distance to my boyfriend) I loved to read about social and economic happenings. I followed candidates that I liked, rallied for them and appropriately loathed their opponents. It wasn't all that uncommon for me to become unglued when someone brought up the ProLife debate. You see I'm not ProDeath, I'm ProChoice. Very different and I need you to know that...okay I'm going off topic...I do that a lot when politics are involved.

I think over the years I've mellowed that a bit. I'll actually let someone on the other side of the fence talk now. I don't have to agree with you, but we can talk it over. I might get a little excited but I won't throw a toaster at you if I think you're dumb. I won't even tell you that you're dumb, because chances are you aren't; you just haven't seen the light yet. ;)

Even in the last election I was gung-ho for my candidates. Kerry/Edwards had my full support - even though I wish the ticket had been reversed. I'll admit it was hard to be excited and full of support after the Bush/Gore fiasco. I think my apathy began On January 6, 2001 while I watched twenty members of the House of Reps stand up, and file an objection with the electoral votes of Florida. One by one, they stood up, stated their objection and looked Mr. Gore in the face, only to be met with an out of order ruling. You see their objection had to be sponsored by just ONE senator to be considered on the floor, and not ONE senator would stand up and side with them. Poor Gore, the President of the Senate had to stand there and watch these dedicated supporters, the voice of the people, make their point. So much for the will of the people... but I digress...my apathy began there because it was the first time I saw the system work against me. Hanging on for the next election was even harder because I knew the evils of George Bush and I knew what was at stake. Even so I persevered and put my bumper sticker on my car window. I voted. I watched as once again my team lost out to what I knew would be considered one of the worst presidencies in the history of our country.

This year I find myself much less interested in the news stories. I watched the first few debates, just to get an idea about what everyone was thinking. I made my choices early on. Unfortunately, my top candidate won't make it to the big vote. I kind of knew that from the get go. My candidates aren't usually "Washington" enough to go too far. So now here I am, the campaigns in full swing, and I don't really give a rat's behind. Either option will do at this point. They are better then the alternative (though I want to say that I like McCain best of all Republicans). But that is where the apathy comes in. I shouldn't be so complacent. I shouldn't have to settle for the lesser of evils. I want to feel passion for politics again and yet, nothing. I got nothing.

It's actually pretty sad for me. I've got a few friends who are working on the Obama campaign and I see how excited they are, and I just don't get it. I suppose I could pick a candidate, get excited and make the effort, but I then I'd be faking it.

I don't know how to cure my apathy. I'm not sure I want to at this point. I think my apathy was brought on by very real things. Problems with the system. Problems with the government in general. I don't want to get excited about something that I think is broken.

Now I'm not sure I want to step out and say that the electoral process needs to be fixed. I know it's there for a reason. I know why we have it. I'm just not sure why we still use it. Seems like the people vote, a person wins. Sounds like that should work. In theory the electoral votes should fall in line with the popular votes. That means the system should work....but it didn't. Four times in history the popular vote was beat out by an electoral vote for a different candidate. Well three times really...1876, 1888, and 2000. In 1824 John Qunicy Adams lost both the popular and electoral vote, but the House of Reps voted him in as President. That's whacked! But it's a whole different deal. Take another look at those dates. The telephone wasn't even in wide spread usage until the very late 1880's or 90's. That's why we needed the Electoral College. It was hard to communicate! But 2000? What's the excuse? Like I said, I don't know that I have an alternative other then just the popular vote, but that means changing the constitution and that's brings up all sorts of issues (well it does if you're not one Mr. George W. Bush).

So here I sit, still angry with the 2000 election. I hope the 2008 election will cure my apathy but I'm not going to hold my breath. I've been let down by our leaders so many times I can't count, and I don't care to...that is the reality of apathy is it not?

But perhaps there is a spark of hope in this blog, I wasn't to apathetic to write it. That means there must be a spark of that dying passion somewhere. Oh spark will you light? Will you show me the way to my fervent political ranting again? I do miss it so