I wake up, get up, shower and shave, walk the kids to school, then walk to the polling location. Yes I said walk. In my small town with the leaves turning from spring green to fall gold democracy in action is about to occur.
After some research I have decided on the ballot what each choice will be on all but one vote. In my political view I vote “do not retain” on all the judges. It is a bit of whimsy but I am honest about it. When I talk to a judge I vote for if they appear responsible and intelligent I may change that view. Rarely has that occurred though. I have met and worked with a lot of judges too.
I have a few people in the local political scene I am voting against, I am voting for their adversary. Walking my kids to school I consider the ramification of the world a new American leadership will bring. The two eight year olds holding their parents hands will be out of primary school, through the intermediate school, and in junior high school the next time we go to a presidential election cycle. I have some perspective.
Most mornings I walk my young twins to the door of their classroom. In previous years teachers have met me at the door and chatted about my children. Last year the teacher was outright hostile to my interest in the educational quality my twin boys were receiving. The year prior to that the teacher soaked up everything my wife and I could provide for educational strategies. I call that classroom door politics. This year the teacher rarely talks to us, is never available in the mornings, and I fear third grade is indicative of the future school years. The trend is not good.
When I vote I am thinking about my children. I am thinking about how every office, position, appointment, and candidate for office will effect my children. I am not so ignorant as to rise to the bait that democrats are soft on national security, or that republicans are fascist anti-liberty. Each candidate has some role to fill in the larger scheme and the political landscape is not a blanket of blue or red. The political landscape is a patchwork quilt of personalities, conflicting interests, and sewn together with the batting of common need and threads of hope.
I have a lot to ponder on my walk through the warming day. Is the changing of the season a metaphor for the term limited presidential election? I gave myself permission to decide on the highest executive office while I walked to the polls. I was an undecided voter right up until I walked into the polling location and cast my ballot.
How could I come all the way to this point of exercising my most fundamental right in such a polarized election cycle? It is quite simple. When I looked at the two primary candidates and considered their similarities I felt I was truly left with very little dissimilarity. Whichever candidate is elected the reality of politics is that it moves slowly so “change” for either side is going to be hard even if there was a single party rule. I’m not much for fear mongering and “the sky is falling” politics. I usually deduct a few IQ points in my considered reasoning of individuals who are so worried about party versus the individual. Or, more importantly I don’t listen to the fear, uncertainty, or doubt of hate filled speech from either side.
My dad and I share the same name. Our birthdays are separated by 28 years. In a geeky turn of events my parents live in my basement. We have a multi-generational household with 63 years between the youngest and the oldest. The vote attendant lady when looking at my drivers’ license and the date of birth for my dad said I looked remarkably young. Ooops. My name is the next one down. She said that my birth date and her sons birth date were the same. Your son was born in 1937? Much giggling from the voter assistance table at that.
I take my ballot and fill out all but the presidential election in a quick flourish. Front and back. All the little circles filled in. My seventeen year old step-son is watching my wife fill out her ballot. He is a few months shy of being able to vote but has followed us to the polls and watched. He has a lot on the line too. He will be nearing graduation from college the next time there is a presidential election.
Do I vote for a man who represents many of the fine traits I find and respect in my own father, a Vietnam veteran, a long time public servant with a historic record of service and representing the status quo? Do I vote for a man who shares many of the same characteristics of me, a college professor, a father of young children, a community organizer, a man entrenched in the issues and multi-cultural nature of the world representing an unknown generational change?
One of the most powerful acts a human being can engage in is the act of making one of those little clear circles colored in. As my pen hovered over the page the good and bad of the last four years floated through my mind. I have friends who fervently have worked for both presidential candidates. I agree with aspects of both candidates and disagree stridently with other aspects of the candidates. One vote among millions. One voice in the cacophony of polarized views. One moment in time. One darkened circle. No regrets. I voted and like always I feel I defined what it means to be American once again.