On the Political Process

Little known fact: I was a political science major in college, friends. I had a very real interest in the science of politics, an interest that almost pushed me into the work-heavy grasp of law school, an interest that kept me from taking more than two writing classes in college, an interest that was also made more palatable by the less rigorous routes to sweet grades. Point being: I like politics. I'm interested in them. I read about them. For me, they represent a very real sociology entwined in our lives that harks back to my days of student government.

A lot of this has to do with my own pragmatic realist sense of the political arena: I love knowing specific reasons why people have strong or muted like or dislike for certain candidates, why they'll vote outside their economic interests, what actually drives them to the polls, etc, because so often these things have very little to do with cold hard factual data. And trust me, I am not judging others and claiming myself immune-- my love of words, and sweetly worded speeches often pushes me to a point of irrational exuberance, not unlike discovering a pot of gold, or a well-groomed and potentially rideable unicorn. Crafting speeches is another obsession. I have several books featuring the great speeches of all time, and nothing gets me more fired up and immersed in goosebumps than sitting down in my nightgown and cap, opening one of those heavy books, and reading some crazy rhetorical geniusocity.

Anyway, my aim is not to render some last minute crazy political speech. It is simply to say vote. Cynics tend to claim that, in reality, certain states have pre-determined outcomes bc of heavy pockets of liberal or conservative votes, and that aside from say, 8 states, what you do doesn't really matter-- but that is missing the point. There is something intensely illuminating and powerful about walking into a booth and checking a box, or coloring in an arrow or hanging a chad, and it fills me with a kind of knowing power and quiet satisfaction of being a part of the political process, however small it may be. We the people decide who run (and potentially wreck havoc on) our country, just as we the writers decide who run (and hopefully wrecks havoc) on our books, and my hope is that--no matter who you choose for either-- the resulting narrative is crazy, sexy, and undeniably cool.

Thank you for allowing me to go off like that. As a reward for your understanding, next week we'll engage in a fantastical new choose your own commenting adventure. Promise. Thoughts on what make you irrationally exuberant should be taken out of your carry on, placed on the Commenting conveyor belt in a clear plastic bag, and contain individual clauses not exceeding 2.5 oz. Happy Election Day.

Vote or,
Die

Diddy