Rationalizations on election night

Probably the most amazing thing about elections is the REASONS people give either to defend their declared vote OR to try to encourage others to vote that way too! Seriously fucked up opinions, laughably horrid, makes me completely doubt the nature of democracy as a worthy ideal.

It's not that I stand superior in my decision making skills, but at least I know I can't particularly defend ANY vote at all.

The EASIEST defense is apparently the antivote "I voted for X because Y [sucks]" inserting whatever chain of meaningless words you wish to substitute for sucks.

I suppose I've used [sucks]="too young", back in the olden days when candidates younger than me, still true for president at least. Secondly I've said [sucks]="Sounds like an idiot" (Sorry Ventura, and Bush too!) Third, I suppose [sucks]="fundamentalist", pretty much interchangable with idiot.

Now I did support Obama this year, and I think he says "all the right things". I think he's intelligence and an extremely capable speaker. Serious, I'll pretend I'm smart, but REALLY I'm better at solving an equation than making a value judgement, better at writing about a few things I know than make comfortable judgements about complex issues where someone can claim harm whatever is decided.

I do always TRY to imagine the long term, and I've got a personality that would rather PAY-FIRST, ENJOY-SECOND, and so things like deficit spending drive me crazy. I don't care if the government spends more money as long as we're paying NOW rather than an imaginary later. And issues like "Energy independence" while brain-dead in the simplictic sense, suggests the right problem - our unsustainable economy based on nonrenewable energy, on growth that can't continue forever, and it scares the shit out of me. But for a REAL PERSON trying to define the PATH from where we are to where we need to be, it's very hard to imagine.

I mostly conclude to see that "Human nature" itself is the problem, that we live in a myth of infinite progress, and so much of what we do is based on this myth that anything we do that counters it basically will destroy all that we have and know, so we'll keep going over the cliff before we seriously question our lemming nature.

Anyway, I'll hope Obama is a great president, hope he finds ways to move our country in ways we need to go. I'll hope the same if McCain miraculously wins the electoral college, although much less hope there.

I voted for Obama for president, Barkley for Senate (standard "protest vote"), and overall my TOP voting opinion in lower offices is "rotation of power". I voted against my mayor, council, against all but one school board member. On the other hand, I voted for all the incumbent judges.

On the "democracy is ok" side, I accept ultimately voting is about "rotation of power" at least in regards to minimum competence. And on that subject, I expect Coleman will win the Senate, given he's the balance against the Democratic Amy C in the other seat.

I hope the Environment 3/8% sales tax amendment passes, expect it'll fail. I don't believe it is ideal, but beats the lottery as a tax source.