Sullen Voters Set to Deliver Another Demand for Change

Odds are good that the U.S. midterm elections will mark the fourth time in less than a decade that voters oust a party from control of Congress or the White House, a remarkable period of instability that has left neither party with a firm grip on power.. . . . . . .

This political story  indicates the mood in the United States at this moment. People are unhappy with both parties and the president. There have been pundits who were predicting a low turn-out for this vote due to apathy and dissatisfaction.  Democrats running for office have distanced themselves from President Obama and asked him not to campaign for them.  One  Democrat has refused to say whether she voted for the President in 2012, when he was the head of her party. Not to be outdone, the Republicans  have not stated  policy changes they would make if elected, and tried to keep a low profile with respectable candidates  and no radical, controversial ones  such as last time when one had to declare publicly, ” I am not a witch!”

One interesting statistic this morning is that the early voting, either in person or by mail, surpasses the 2010 off-year election ( a non-presidential election ) and even the 2012 presidential election  when Mr. Obama was on the ballot for his second term.

This year I have been very intrigued by both the Indian election in May and the Scottish referendum in September.  What an inspiration it was to see the sleeping giant of  Indian people, stand in line for hours to participate in their democracy.  And they were heard with the 60% or higher turnout. In Scotland, the participatory rate was an incredible 80+%  voting for or against an independent Scotland.  And though the vote was very close the “No” voters prevailed, but the pro-Independence Scots have not given up but have regrouped and have a new strategy to insure an Independent Scotland soon in their future.  People in these two countries  care, are informed, vote just as Americans did years ago.

There are friends on the internet that say that no matter the winners, that things will not  change. I am not ready to concede  this greatest of democratic principles. . . . a government elected for and by the people.  Not yet!

We voted today and there were no lines as we entered, though we did have a wait for a few people a head of us.  Please, if you are registered, go and exercise this responsibility and privilege of “one person one vote”.   Someday, it could be taken from us. . . . . . . .

Have you voted?