2003-10-07

 
My thoughts on the debacle of electing a pawn for governor.

It is outrageous that a society can be so ill-considered to select a republican governor with no platform and embarassingly funny celebrity status. It is even more outrageous that people are disillusioned with the whole democratic political process. "My vote didn't make a difference". "See, next time I won't even waste my time." Instead of frustration at the polls, people should invoke this emotion for illegitimacy in electoral politics to bring things closer to their own grasp. Instead of speculating on next year's presidential election, people should focus their attention to the true hopes of achieving a sane local municipal government. There is extreme hope for Green politics in the San Francisco mayoral race (Matt Gonzalez!) and with this sort of focused optimism, we can demonstrate to the rest of the state and country that not all Americans are misled by sensationalism. Instead of vowing to denounce politics and to say that governance is ineffectual, one should bring capacity for change also closer to their own realm of agency; one should get in the streets and right the wrongs of their local situations. While we all would love to have progressive jobs, getting paid (well, too) to fight for environmental and egalitarian issues, vocation is only one domain. We also are able to effect change by volunteerism. There is no other singular way -- not contributing money nor voting -- to reach out to neighbors and participate in society, thus communicating ideas. One will find that the frustration acquired on election day is quite a contrast to the exhiliration of cleaning up garbage, teaching a child something new, feeding a stranger, or donating items to the needy. From there we can more effectively communicate. Volunteerism, even in the slightest bit, can bring forth our ability to function as a democracy. It can also bring forth benevolent societal progress.
posted by MM 11:38 PM