Yes, it’s that time again.  It’s time for the United States of America to vote.  It’s time for us to forget about how bad our democracy really is.  How we’re locked into a two-party system that prevents any third parties from ever having a real chance.  How we have an electoral college there to protect the masses from themselves, and to keep a popular vote from being a real one.  How we’re using more and more electronic voting machines that still have not been proven without a doubt safe from tampering, and in fact in many cases have been proven to be very easy to tamper with.  How our presidents don’t run with a vice president that is equally good for our country, but with a vice president that hopefully will help sway the uncertain by giving the impression of being what the presidential candidate is not.  How our candidates spend so much time digging up campaign funds instead of actually doing their jobs.  While we continue to slave away at our jobs, just struggling to make ends meet.

Yes, it’s time to continue the sham of democracy in America, instead of fixing it.

We spend so much time worrying about what the media tells us we’re supposed to worry about, that we forget that we, the people, are the United States of America.  That we, the people, are the ones whom hold power over those in charge, and not the other way around.  And that if we, the people, actually wanted change, we could make it happen.

But we don’t want change.  We like our nice safe world with the devils we know.

And so, like sheep, we put ourselves out to be counted.  We form lines into tiny corrals, and bleet ourselves silly.

How many of you who voted even chose individuals?  And how many of you just voted Republican or Democrat?  How many of you actualy know who you’re voting for?  Not just for president, but all the way down to state and even city elections?  Do you know?  Do you care?  Do you honestly think that R or D is enough to judge a person by?

Of course you do.  Because you still happily use flawed electronic machines to vote, not even bothering to look at the data of how many times they’ve been hacked.

Of course you do.  Because you still think that two parties are enough.

I love my country.  But sometimes I’m also ashamed of it.  Like a mother who drinks, or a father who gambles too much.  You can love someone, something, and still know that it’s not perfect, and still wish that things could be better.

Maybe you just think I’m a loon.  Maybe you don’t even care.

But if I can make you think, just one person, you, even once, before you cast your vote today, then I’ll have done my part.  What you do is your choice.  Remember that.  And truly make it your choice.  Let your voice be heard.

Thank you.

Yesterday was Super Tuesday. A lot of you probably voted. Even more of you might have cared.

I don’t.

You see, when a computer program contains an error, or even a bad algorithm or method, it’s the responsibility of the people who maintain that computer program to fix it. The same as when a design flaw causes a failure in a feat of mechanical engineering, they’re responsible for fixing it.

But who is responsible for fixing the government? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

The thing is … no one is taking that responsibility. In theory, we all should. Government belongs to us all. But we don’t. Oh, we pretend to. We vote. Most vote for a party or just the president. In a two party system that’s about as functional as voting that Ford or Chevy should make all cars. But we pretend we’re actually doing something. We’re preserving democracy dammit!

But in this day and age what is the purpose of the Electoral College? Why do we only have a two party system? Why are influential people with money allowed to buy votes finance campaigns? Why do we let the atrocity that is American Democracy continue unchecked? Why don’t we start fixing it?

And as if it wasn’t so screwed up before, now we have to introduce bad technology into the system, in the form of electronic voting. We have e-voting without paper trails, with unsecured systems, with unverifiable ballot counting. Now as the 2000 election clearly indicated, ballots can be screwed up just fine without computers being involved. But do we really need to make the situation ‘better’ by introducing worse solutions? I have about as much faith in an e-vote not being tampered with (intentionally or unintentionally) as I have in Revenge Of The Nerds being remembered a thousand years from now as the turning point in civilization.

We’ve seen plenty of reports on how insecure e-voting machines are. But we’re supposed to believe that no one has actually done anything to screw with them? Oh come on! I wouldn’t buy that for a dollar! We’re really meant to believe that not a single Republican or Democrat zealot exists in the United States? Not a one?

And certainly no one interested in politics would work anywhere near a polling machine. (That was sarcasm by the way.)
It’s bull. It’s elephant and donkey bull! Not just presidency either. It’s the whole system. How often do Congress-persons work? And how often do they schmooze to get their next election funding? And then run for re-election? And that’s when they’re not just plain on vacation!

In my opinion, the system is badly engineered. And no one is taking the responsibility to fix it. My choices are:

1. Vote for people who would make a change if they ever get elected - which in this two party system they won’t be.
2. Bitch, whine, and moan - and watch no one listen, care if they do listen, or do anything if they do care.
3. Run for election myself - which I dare say I’m not qualified for, have no campaign funds to run on, and in this two party system have no chance at winning.
4. Do nothing.

Great options, huh? As you can see, I’m making such a difference. But at least I am doing something that addresses the problem instead of just pretending to. What do you suggest?