Vote Damn It

So, you may know from my night of debauchery that I am very passionate about voting. As I state in that post, that is usually the only thing I get loud and argumentative about whilst drunk. That doesn't mean, of course, that I have to necessarily be drunk to be passionate. Yesterday, after one beer, I ran into Upstairs Kid and Golf, my neighbor, and I grilled them on whether or not they were registered (nope). Later, Golf's girlfriend, Stripper, joined the conversation. I explained to her (white girl) and Upstairs Kid (black guy) that they, of all people, should take this shit seriously.

After all, who fought and died for their right to not vote?

I get it though. They are in their twenties and trying to figure out life as adults. I remember that time and I wasn't very political or newsy myself. I'm still not. I try to keep on top of what goes on but I'll admit that I don't zone in on an article about another suicide bombing. But I started paying attention in my mid twenties, not even understanding the import.

We live in a very free country. In fact, we live in a country with so many indulgences that we feel we can be cavalier about voting rights. Citizens in other countries? They line up for hours or days to vote, even if they may die doing so. But us? We have farmville and facebook and Hustler and so many other things to distract us that we just don't care. Besides, we have convinced ourselves, one vote doesn't count. But it would if we all voted.

I don't know about you, but it matters very much to me what rights I have to abortion, how we plan to fund education, what we plan to do to eliminate poverty. I'm neither pregnant, nor in high school, nor impoverished, but I care. I was on reduced lunch as an elementary school kid and I went to Planned Parenthood in college when I didn't have health benefits (birth control and pap smears, not abortion). I care about what my country does and how the leaders of my country feel towards other countries.

Because I know it matters. I will always vote for more funding for schools because, although I do not have children, I understand that it might me kid in school who takes care of my ass when I'm old and cancer ridden. I care about immigration rights because mine is a family of immigrants, my first American born relative being my maternal grandfather (everyone else, my maternal grandmother, my paternal grandparents, and my father, all from other countries). I care about gay rights because, whilst I myself am married to a heterosexual male, I want to ensure that all people have the same rights. After all, how long ago was it that people thought interracial marriage was harmful to the "institution of marriage"?

I care. I care because I live in this country, I benefit from living in this country, and I can be threatened by living in this country if no one gives a shit. So I will always be passionate about voting and I will always give you shit if you don't vote. You don't complain and so that justifies your not voting? Bullshit. You probably complain about something like welfare, taxes, the education system, freedom of speech, or any other sundry item. If you ever complain about one damn thing about your country, you are complaining.

Therefore, you should vote; unless you only complain about the weather.