I know that wise people don't discuss politics or religion, but they are great topics. It's no fun discussing something that everyone agrees on and both are belief-based so no right answers--its all opinion.
But sometimes the discussions become strange. Take an argument about the pro's and con's of a candidate being argued by a person that isn't going to vote, that knows they are not going to vote, that has not voted in the past and is not registered. Opinions are free, but why be passionate about a candidate if you aren't willing to put out the effort to go vote for them.
Why do we need to vote? Because we have some ability to participate in the decisions being made about how we are governed.
True, we are not a democracy--our top leader is chosen by an electoral college--translates to we vote for unknown people in a party that will select whether our state will chose the democrat or the republican nominee. If 51% of the state votes one way and 49% votes the other, all the states electoral votes are for the party of the 51%. Not a great system. Definitely not a case of every vote counts. But if 60% of the people vote and 51% of those 60% vote for one party while the 40% of those that didn't vote, were for the other party, the minority just won the whole state.
Participate in your own future, choose the leaders that will determine whether your children and grandchildren will be permanent peons or people with possibilities. Wake up! Be aware of what is going on around you. Be aware of those ugly fears and anxieties that allow us all to be driven to make foolish/reactionary choices. Be involved in all parts of your life.
It is very easy to become overwhelmed with the media, to be swayed by those we love and trust even when they are listening to their own fear and anxiety. It is also easy to be mired down in the minutiae of our busy, chaotic lives and lose the bigger picture. Be aware of that also.
Listen to all sides of a story. If something seems far-fetched or pointedly aim at making a group of people into the enemy, it may be propaganda. If something seems unlikely as it is told to you, question it. There are many sources for information. Use more than one. Question those things that make it sound like you need to buy 200 acres in Montana to build a bunker. Question those that tell you to move to an island off the coast of South America. Question all those panicky, hateful, stories that sound as if they were made to make you be afraid of people that are different than you.
We aren't that different. Skin color, religious beliefs, political beliefs, traditions, all of those are obvious, but we are all driven by the same wants and desires, to be safe, to have enough to keep our families happy and healthy, to have people to talk to and activities to participate in. We are social creatures. And we are apparently pretty darn easy to scare. All you have to do to scare us is threaten the safety of our loved ones, their ability to continue to believe what they believe, and their opportunity to dream their dreams.
Our best hope for maintaining our descendants right to live free, is to wake up, be aware of our media surroundings and participate to the best of our ability in the governance of our land.
Who knows, with a little work, we may get the opportunity to change that ridiculous electoral system into a popular vote someday soon.
But sometimes the discussions become strange. Take an argument about the pro's and con's of a candidate being argued by a person that isn't going to vote, that knows they are not going to vote, that has not voted in the past and is not registered. Opinions are free, but why be passionate about a candidate if you aren't willing to put out the effort to go vote for them.
Why do we need to vote? Because we have some ability to participate in the decisions being made about how we are governed.
True, we are not a democracy--our top leader is chosen by an electoral college--translates to we vote for unknown people in a party that will select whether our state will chose the democrat or the republican nominee. If 51% of the state votes one way and 49% votes the other, all the states electoral votes are for the party of the 51%. Not a great system. Definitely not a case of every vote counts. But if 60% of the people vote and 51% of those 60% vote for one party while the 40% of those that didn't vote, were for the other party, the minority just won the whole state.
Participate in your own future, choose the leaders that will determine whether your children and grandchildren will be permanent peons or people with possibilities. Wake up! Be aware of what is going on around you. Be aware of those ugly fears and anxieties that allow us all to be driven to make foolish/reactionary choices. Be involved in all parts of your life.
It is very easy to become overwhelmed with the media, to be swayed by those we love and trust even when they are listening to their own fear and anxiety. It is also easy to be mired down in the minutiae of our busy, chaotic lives and lose the bigger picture. Be aware of that also.
Listen to all sides of a story. If something seems far-fetched or pointedly aim at making a group of people into the enemy, it may be propaganda. If something seems unlikely as it is told to you, question it. There are many sources for information. Use more than one. Question those things that make it sound like you need to buy 200 acres in Montana to build a bunker. Question those that tell you to move to an island off the coast of South America. Question all those panicky, hateful, stories that sound as if they were made to make you be afraid of people that are different than you.
We aren't that different. Skin color, religious beliefs, political beliefs, traditions, all of those are obvious, but we are all driven by the same wants and desires, to be safe, to have enough to keep our families happy and healthy, to have people to talk to and activities to participate in. We are social creatures. And we are apparently pretty darn easy to scare. All you have to do to scare us is threaten the safety of our loved ones, their ability to continue to believe what they believe, and their opportunity to dream their dreams.
Our best hope for maintaining our descendants right to live free, is to wake up, be aware of our media surroundings and participate to the best of our ability in the governance of our land.
Who knows, with a little work, we may get the opportunity to change that ridiculous electoral system into a popular vote someday soon.
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