I am 24 years old. I voted for the first time for Obama in 2008, when I was 19 years old.
I was not very politically aware during high school (which was in rural Nevada, you can guess the majority there). My high school boyfriend was in the Young Democrat's club, and got me started.
The thing is, when I started paying attention, much of what I heard concerned the lies of the Bush administration. And not lies like "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" but lies about where the WMDs are and the smoking gun coming in the form of a mushroom cloud. Lies that led to catastrophes.
Then there was the 2008 presidential election, and conservatives openly pursuing conspiracy theories and lying outright about Obama's birthplace, religion, etc.
And the blatant misinformation about the 2010 Obamacare law (death panels, anyone?), and now about immigration reform.
And so on.
So when the Senate minority sets filibuster records and is so insincere about actually governing, I shrug.
When Joe Wilson literally shouts at the President "You lie!" in the middle of a speech, I shrug.
When Paul Ryan says that austerity and/or tax cuts will save the U.S. economy, I have no reaction.
My point is, I have no frame of reference for an honest and civil opposition party, or for a functional federal government.
What really brings me down that the era in which I became politically active is one where I am forced to have very, very low expectations for this country*. I expect to be disappointed and occasionally disgusted for the rest of my days. I could barely muster disapproval of the NSA spying scandal and James Clapper lying to Congress, because it seems like that's just standard procedure?
Someone tell me if these feelings are normal. Like I said, no frame of reference.
*with the exception of gay rights.
