I have no excuse for not voting either. I could have already applied for my citizenship by now and done so. I don't know why I can't bring myself to do it. I wasn't eligible during the last election and now I am coming up with excuses about paperwork, my past negative experiences with the INS, the generally weird feeling about becoming American even though I am Canadian by birth and there is that whole continent sharing thing. Many Canadians have a tendency to define themselves by what they are not: American. They tend to take a self righteous glee in all that. My friends and family get huffy and defensive when I point out that who the Prime Minister is.
I know I do in fact have a stake in the future here. I plan to stay unless unusual circumstances arise and yet I feel oddly disconnected from both the robust patriotism here fueled by a belief that America despite its flaws is the best and the brightest that can be offered to the world and the naive patriotism expressed by Canadians rooted in non-super power status and some vague anti-Americanism. Neither one fits. I can't grasp or support the hollow nationalism in Canada that pretends there are no strong ties with the United States. I grew out of that. Nor can I embrace the rah rah patriotism of the right which is essentially: screw them if they can't see our greatness, nor the more modified version expressed by those who think we might be a bit arrogant but well intentioned.
I straddle two countries that share a continent and neither one feels exactly like home.
I am very clear on who I support, which candidates come the closest to matching my ideals and hopes. Recent candidate wars here have certainly convinced me of my suspicion that there is no unified or driving progressive force in this country. Yes, I am aware this is a blog devoted to electing Democratic candidates, not necessarily progressive, liberal, or even left leaning ones. I think the same charge could be leveled at the state of potential change in Canada. In the end, a candidate will be chosen one who can hopefully defeat the Republican although my personal opinion is that a Dem president is by no means a "lock" on the presidency. Whoever that nominee is will in an effort to appeal to the "middle class" will likely adopt some "post partisan" or reject the idea of being seen as too partisan in an effort to win. It is a pragmatic and realistic approach. It is the cult of being electable, not an approach that will for example start the torturous process toward creating a universal health care system, something I value but recognize that for many Americans it sounds "too scary". Do Americans really want "change", or a slight tweaking of the system? My perception is that they lean toward a "tweak".
In 2004, about 60 percent of Americans voted, a fairly high number around 122 million but 78 million who were eligible to vote stayed home. Were those 78 million people too full of cynicism, too busy, too uninterested, somehow prevented from voting, lacking hope? Who are they and what did they want? Why are we satisfied by that kind of turnout?
I don't expect much of the way in feedback for my scattered ramblings other than to tell me I am either idiotic or engaging in twisted rationales. I suppose I felt a need to confess my sin knowing it had no real impact. But I do wonder why so many Americans are not invested enough to vote, perhaps, mere survival has supplanted an enthusiasm for democracy and participation.
Is there a candidate who can inspire more than sixty percent of the populace to vote? Claims are being made here and now about the ability to inspire.