I used to love politics. I used to be on fire about it. I used to watch the news and read the news and scream at the news. I used to read commentary and do research and feel like I was working towards a deeper understanding of my role in our government. I always encouraged people to vote with that quintessential language, “Your vote counts! Be heard!”
Somewhere along the way my give-a-damn broke. Now I hate politics, I don’t watch the news, and I only read a very small selection of carefully chosen stories online and an even smaller number of commentaries. I question everything – the facts, the point of view, the source. I don’t know who to believe, yet I firmly believe that we are all royally screwed.
I am the Debbie Downer of American Politics.
Part of the pessimism is based on my inability to find that special someone in Washington D.C. who looks the most like me. Actually, I think a lot of us have that problem. Even though the country seems overwhelmingly divided, I think a lot of us are just an inch shy of the center in either direction, walking around, scratching our heads.
More than anything, I’m exhausted. I can’t be on that roller coaster ride anymore. I can’t throw my energy into feeling that deeply only to be let down, disappointed, and consistently shocked and angered. Am I being vague? Sure I am, because you don’t need to know where my position is on any issue to understand how I feel. We’ve all had political whiplash in the last ten (or fifteen, or twenty) years or so, haven’t we?
I do vote, and I voted today. I will continue to vote in every election because it’s important. But instead of feeling that happy, purposeful rush of civic pride and camaraderie with my fellow voters, I shlepped in, fondled the machine, and let my boys each pick a sticker. As we left, I scanned the room and realized that every single person looked as miserable as I did.
I tried to talk about voting with the boys, as I usually do (We talk about all sorts of things in this house.), but they sensed my apathy and didn’t press me with too many questions. I’m too disenchanted to carry on a conversation, and for the first time ever I’m wondering, “Does it even matter? Does my vote really, truly, fully count?”
Maybe I shouldn’t watch House of Cards anymore.
All I know is that I’m dreading 2016. D-R-E-A-D-I-N-G. That might be the year I unplug.
Reblogged this on Blog of Things:.
It IS a downer when you vote for someone you don’t really KNOW as a person or can even trust when all is said and done. I guess you were watching that Debbie Downer SNL Video I saw online this week! Cheer up Debbie Downer, why cry over things yo have no control over?LOL
I feel the same way. It just doesn’t seem like anyone going to Washington, or let alone in my own state, really understands the people that vote them in. They promise stuff and you know that there is no way for them to do that when they get into office. The other problem is the amount of money spent on elections now a days. It is just rediculous that probably half a billion dollars will be spent on the presidential election. REALLY!?!?!?!? They need to be given the same amount of money, given some free time on TV for ads at different times of the day and have some televised debates. It’s not just the presidential election anymore, I think I heard about a local race where like 10 million was spent. That is just stupid and that is why the everyday person can’t run for office anymore, they need the people that have the money and if they get into office they have to basically do what those people want them to do in office, not the everyday person. Like you, I’ll continue to vote but it is with a lot less zeal as it was in the past.