A few minutes ago I endorsed a candidate with actual money, and it’s kind of a strange feeling. In 2000, I wrote in a vote for Dave Barry. That was deliberate–I pre-emptively excused myself from blame or credit for and deprived myself of the right to complain about the actions of whoever won. I’m still okay with that.
Both my worldview and my attention to current events have changed since then, and I feel more confident now about my ability to choose well. I don’t believe I have the right or obligation to choose for other people, and I’m going to maintain my policy of not discussing politics here, in the most public record of my thoughts.
I probably won’t talk about them in person, either, unless asked in a real and honest fashion. Dinner-table or car-seat political discussions, in my experience, are rarely better than self-serving. Worse, they frequently cause problems in areas that should have nothing to do with them. They accomplish nothing. The only way to affect the election is with your own considered, educated, immensely powerful vote.
I won’t try to instruct you what to do with that vote, except this: make sure it is considered, educated and well-used. Read the news. Search for information on issues that matter most to you, but consider broader political stances as well. Distinguish spin from fact. Ignore scandal headlines (there have been some already, and there will be more) and check the last paragraphs, where summaries take over from hype.
Media urgings to vote that air in October have always seemed pointless to me: what do you accomplish if you’re only prodded into going to a booth by a TV anchor? A vote by someone who doesn’t understand what he or she is doing with it is worse than no vote at all.
So I’m asking you to begin your consideration now, before the new year begins. 2004 is going to be very big. With some effort and some thought, you can be equal to it.
And if, after that, you choose to vote for Dave Barry, then I think you and I will understand each other.
