I Voted! So, Now What...?
I'm happy to say I voted for the first time as a San Francisco resident. I put on some clothes (I had been wearing just boxers), walked about a block and a half to this random residential garage, gave my ID to quite possibly the oldest woman in America, and took my ballot into a cramped booth smack-dab between two other people.
On my right, there was a well-dressed man in his mid-to-late thirties who seemed to pour over his ballot like it was his last will and testament. To my left, a goth-looking chick with multiple facial piercings appeared to be getting angrier as she progressed through her ballot.
And then there was me in my Diesel jeans, Reef sandals and University of Colorado intramural champion ('99) shirt...
I'd like to say I went into today's election with a deep and profound knowledge of all the ballot measures and candidates. Truth be told, I knew very little about what I was voting on. Yes, I had been mailed two different voting booklets and had been exposed to much election coverage in the news and on the Internet. But I didn't really pay attention to any of it... I mean, who really cares about this stuff (okay... all of you who just snickered -- down in front).
I really only went into the polling place for three reasons:
1. Because it was my civic duty as an American citizen;
2. Because people had sacrificed their lives in numerous wars for my right to vote; and
3. To get my "I Voted!" sticker (which I'm currently wearing proudly)
I also entered the polling place to vote against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and because if I didn't vote, there was a slight chance P-Diddy and 50 Cent would kill me.
So, I did my part by voting. But now what...? What changes now that I've voted...? You always hear that not voting is wrong, and if you don't vote, you're doing both yourself and society a grave injustice. But if you do vote, what do you get? ...A tax break? Not really. ...Money back? Not a chance. ...A pat on the back from your local politician? No way...
I bet that had I not voted at all, nothing really would have changed. The Democrats and Republicans would still be arguing over everything; there'd still be construction on most every street here in San Francisco; a good cup of coffee would still cost well over two bucks; and the Giants would still be without a reliable closer (damn you, Armando Benitez!!!)
The truth is, the only tangible thing you get for voting is not a sense of American pride. (I get that when I stand up for the National Anthem, or consume a Triple-Triple Animal-style at In 'N Out.)
No, the only thing you get by voting is the opportunity to come in to work twenty minutes late... not to mention, a snazzy "I Voted!" sticker!
See ya around the polls in '08,
-Mitch
San Francisco, CA
November 7, 2006
