Uberexageration/Big Tex sounds off on Politics

I love to see when people get uberexcited to the point of hysterical when it comes to politcs. As a moderate it is fun to see people on both sides of the politcal spectram scream, yell, and make ridiculous promises if their candiates lose.

I have run across plenty of people who proclaimed in 2000, "If Bush wins the Presedency I am moving to canada!" Guess what. None of them moved. Not one. I am not surprised though, becuase usually people do not think through these statements. Typically these are made in the heat of the moment, and bear little to no reselblance of reality. In fact these people get so irritated when theoir candiate lose they are unable to discuss rationally the outcome. And here we are in 2004 claiming the very same thing. But you know what, they wont act on their threat, because they have not actually thought through what it means.

Let me give you an example. I had a friend in 2000 (lets call her F) that claimed if Bush won the election she would move to Canada. Well, Bush won the election, and I of course mentioned it casually to her. She got so irritated with me that she threatened to move to Canada. I mentioned that it was her choice whether or not she wanted to move to Canada, but I could not understand why she was being hysterical. Her candidate lost. Big deal. Maybe her candidate will win in the next election. To say that she got angry with me over this would be a massive understatement. Suffice to say that we have not talked since. I found out years later(as in earlier this year) that she never moved to Canada(big surprise there) and had no plan to do so. I have even been told that she reads this blog.

Politics is an intereting thing. Here in the year 2004 (an election year), I am always amused when 18-24 year olds claim that they are disenfranchised with politics becuase no candidate speaks to them. Well, obviously they wont speak to you BECAUSE you don't vote. If you bothered to vote, the politicans would have to speak to you. It is a simply vicious l cycle that you need to fix. The candidate has no reason to talk to you unless you give them a reason to listen. That reason is your vote. Use it, or shut up.

Your attempt to nominate Howard Dean was admirable but clearly unrealistic. Nobody that far left can win an election these days. You need to be able to appeal to moderate voters and Dean clealry cannot do that. While I am not sure how Kerry will do in November(I believe he has a sizable deficit now), I do know he made the wrong choice for Running Mate.

As much as the Democrats would like to think that Edwards will make headway in the south and cause Bush to lose ground there, that is simply untrue. Edwards is not strong enough in North Carolina to deliver it or any other souther state in the election. Kerry screwed up in his choice, from where I sit. If I was Kerry, I would have gone after someone in a swing state. Perhaps Bob Graham, the very popular former Florida senator. Florida, as a swing state, may decide the election, and with Graham on the ticket, he could tilt that state into the Kerry column. That is just one example of a person Kerry should have gone after.

I, however, will not be making any extreme promises if my candiate does not win. Why? Becuase it is silly to do so. I know that I will not move to Canada if my candiate loses, so why would I say that? I have no interest in moving to canada, I am very happy living here. Whoever wins the presidency will be my president whether I like him or not. If my candidate loses, it is better to simply accecpt it, and move on. In 4 years there will be another chance for my candiate to win. People need to learn that politics while interesting is not the end all or beall of anything. If you want to move to England, Canada, or even (shudder) France, go for it, I honestly do not care. But if you dont vote and then you choose to tell me your opinion, shut up. If you dont have the time to vote, I dont have the time for your opinion.

I am calling you out on this F. I challenge you to respond to my criticism. If anything, you will get a chance to defend yourself in front of Big Tex's loyal readers. I do not expect you to respond(or even vote) so try to surprise me. If you want to be a radical go ahead. If you want to be a leftist, card carrying communist fine. If you think that Kerry is your savior, I dont care. All that I say is try to put these ideas into a cogent argument that is not littered with phrases like "Bush will lead us to the end of civilization" or "Bush is too stupid to be president." He might not be brilliant, but he is a lot smarter then you are. He has done something with his life. What have YOU done?