Not only do I believe in voting, but usually on the first day of early voting. I couldn’t do that this time around since I’d moved and my voting activation hadn’t kicked in until May 1st. No problem! That was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
When I entered the polling place, I spun around in a circle because I was the only voter present. The number of voting workers usually outnumber voters during these non-presidential elections, but this was extra special. In more ways the one.
I always take a picture after voting.
I use it as a visual reminder for friends to go vote as I point to my “I Voted” or “Yo Voté” sticker. Yet in this case, I directed everyone’s attention to the two vultures over my right shoulder in the background.
They picked at a dead squirrel’s carcass.
I texted the pictures to some friends, inviting them to make whatever voting analogy they could think of. As for me, the political climate often does seem as if we are picking over the leftovers of a dead system. If I were more optimistic, as one friend suggested the analogies should be, I would see the present state of things about to replace what no longer works.
The pessimist in me thinks that the people who benefited, or at least who perceived that they benefited, from the old system will practice a scorched-Earth policy rather than allow something more equitable to flourish in its ashes. As I’ve reminded myself and others, no one embraces a future where they don’t see themselves as a successful part of.
Amazing, my optimism does extend into the future. I wake up every morning feeling that today’s the day wonderful things are going to happen or at least get me closer to that.