Just turned 18 days before the election in 1972, but I was registered and eager to vote. For George McGovern. Some called him too liberal. But around my house in upstate NY, he was considered normal. Nelson Rockefeller was our governor, Jake Javits was one of our Senators. Both Republican, both way more liberal than a lot of today's Democratic politicians.
Even though we were dirt poor, we knew where the public library was. The Sunday New York Times was a necessary indulgence in the house. Even without the Internet, we spent time and energy staying informed. Political discourse occurred regularly in our house and in the neighborhood, and usually courteously. We knew, as a country, we had a long way to go, regarding civil rights, labor issues, and reproductive choice. But it seemed like progress was being made, and change would indeed occur at an evolutionary, glacial pace, rather than by revolution. Our household had faith and hope that change was possible.
Oh well, you know how that turned out.
I now live in Missouri, a former blue-state that has become frighteningly red. Republican people I talk to, when they are open to engaging in political conversations, are so illogical and closed-minded. Their stock comment about any Democratic candidate is "I don't approve of murdering babies." Good Gawd, y'all.
Here is an article with facts that will probably not be news to the faithful on this site. The title is "The Opiate of Exceptionalism" and it talks about all the ways the US has fallen behind the rest of the world. But "We're Number ONE!" and "USA, USA, USA" crap crap crap http://www.nytimes.com/...
Please, my friends, let's help with GOTV efforts. You can, yes you can, donate a couple of hours between now and election day. And bring your friends. At least donate some food or water bottles to the kiddos at your local Democratic campaign office.
Thanks for reading!