DarlingDemocrat

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Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:20:35 -0400

In the days before many people turn eighteen, they plan with their friends a midnight trip to a gas...

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:27:21 -0400

In the days before many people turn eighteen, they plan with their friends a midnight trip to a gas station, grocery store, or drug store to buy what they are now legally allowed to buy: cigarettes, fireworks, lottery tickets, etc. I like so many American teens did just that on my eighteenth birthday. It’s funny that newly lawful adults make excited plans for these trivial things, but I am also guilty of doing just that. Not until a few weeks later did it hit me that there was one more thing, slightly more important, that I could now do and that was to register to vote. I think very few people actually get excited to do this for two reasons. One reason may be that they simply do not care about politics or our political system, deeming the act of voting for their state’s slate of electors — who will then vote for the next president of the United States — as boring; or, they simply don’t think of it at all. The next, more concerning reason I think is that they think voting is pointless. After all, what’s one vote going to do?

One of my high school teachers — by far the best history teacher whose class I had the pleasure of attending — told my class a story after a student said that there was really no point in voting because our votes don’t mean much. Years before, my teacher said, he carpooled to school with three coworkers. On one election day, they were debating whether or not they should stop by their voting center to vote in a small, local election. After much debate following a long, tiring work day, they decided they would go vote. Coincidentally, they were all planning on voting for the same candidate. That candidate ended up winning the election following a recount. When the results came in, my teacher realized that the candidate had won by two votes. Each of the teachers was surprised to learn that their votes did, in fact mean something. As it turned out, their vote meant a lot.

The vast majority of people, myself included, too often fail to appreciate the fact that we live in a democracy. A democracy plagued and threatened by the astronomical contributions to candidates made by companies with vested interests in pressing political issues, but a democracy no less. Even though we may not see proof or evidence that our votes matter, in the grand scheme of things, they really do. It is when people lose faith in our democracy and the power of their vote that less popular candidates or decisions get made in politics.

So, do yourself and the rest of America a favor and go out and vote in November. Imagine if more Floridians had voted and George Bush lost the election. Where might we be now? But one can only dream.

Love or hate Obama, no one can deny what an incredible speaker...

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:17:33 -0400

Love or hate Obama, no one can deny what an incredible speaker he is.

I don't know why I'm doing this, but have at it.

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:58:04 -0400

invade my privacy

Purple: 10 facts about my room
Blue: 9 facts about my family
Green: 8 facts about my body
Yellow: 7 facts about my childhood
Orange: 6 facts about my home town
Red: 5 facts about my best friend
Pink: 4 facts about my parents
White: 3 facts about my personality
Grey: 2 facts about my favorite things
Black: 1 fact about the person I like

I finally decided where I’m going to college next year.

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:41:25 -0400

I finally decided where I’m going to college next year.

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