election day fever

i get so bummed out on election day. it seems that suddenly people are filled with all sorts of political furor and it's suddenly socially acceptable to be passionate about politics... even to the point where people are saying, suggesting, telling, and sometimes yelling at others to, "GO FUCKING VOTE!" and it's not all of this which bums me out... it's that it seems like it's only cool to be like this on election day. most other days you get something along the lines of, "don't talk politics or religion... ever."

and i'm bummed about our system. we're in a two party gridlock. this is the best we got. and i assume we have one of the more top notch political systems of the world (i could be wrong... i don't really know the in's and out's of other political systems like i know ours). if we're not the best, we're supposed to be some sorta standard bearer for democracy in the world. and the best we can do is vote for people who let big money and special interests influence their behavior.

i get that, for the most part, there are no saints. everyone's guilty of fucking up somewhere along the line and the one thing you can be sure of is that everyone is due at least one more good fuck up sometime soon. so no matter what happens ever in all of history, we'll never elect the perfect candidate. but if we had more of a selection... i just think several options would help keep people more honest. if you look at third party options in america today, for the most part, they're considered a joke. if you bring it up, you're often told your vote is being wasted.

our own unwillingness to be involved has ruined politics. all those other options that aren't republican or democrat running for political offices are hard to hear through the million dollar commercials. and we're a lazy country for the most part. no one wants to learn all that much about politics. i wish i could say something like, "i don't think most people vote based on commercials,"  but that has to be the case. why else would there be so many damn commercials if it didn't work? and to me it seems like the most absurd, obscene, and idiotic way to choose a leader... but that's how shit gets done around here.

so everyone go vote. do what's right in your conscience in that booth. but when you wake up tomorrow, try to keep a little bit of that, "giving a fuck," that got you off the couch or out of your daily routine and pushed you into that voting booth. this is an all day, everyday sorta thing. the two major parties of this country are counting on you to not pay attention again till it's commercial time four years from now. they're counting on you to mock the third party options. they're counting on and even preying on your ignorance. and if that's not enough to at least push you to learn and do more during the offseason, then maybe voting's not for you after all.