Election Night
Posted on 04. Nov, 2008 by Deb in Just.....Me, Just...Webby, Just...an Observation
I’m conspicuously quiet when it comes to discussing my political views. Maybe it’s because I was brought up in the South and there are some things that are not supposed to be discussed with company in the living room – or even over coffee. Don’t expect me to passiontately endorse the man I voted for. Like the price I paid for my last car, it’s not something I’m going to talk about – polite company and all.
This blog is, in some ways, my virtual living room.
It’s no secret, at least to those who bother to really get to know me, that I am conservative in the bulk of my political views – but also have some liberal leanings in some areas, like the rights of women.
A fair number of the folks I follow in blogs and in Twitter are very liberal and very vocal in their support of Obama. I understand the passion, I do. As someone that has worked much of the last three years in Washington DC…the last year basically living here….I have seen the daily workings of politics and how they play out on a daily basis.
What I am hoping to see, however, is that after tomorrow, once the next President is announced, is that all of these incredibly vocal folks continue to stay involved in politics.
Do you know your local Congressman? Have you given him or her your support? Have you written an email to him or her and told her how you feel about the way their vote was cast on the “bail-out” issue? Are you aware of the stance the two Senators in your State take on issues that are important to you?
No matter who is elected as the next President, there will be some changes. But the President is a small portion of that and without support of the House and the Senate, bigger changes are not possible. Congress is who writes the laws, folks, and without good folks there – keeping in mind the issues that are important to the people who elected them….
So, for all of the arm-chair politicians out there, keep it up. But don’t let one single race be the only thing that matters. Don’t go back to not reading the newspaper. Don’t neglect to vote in two years when there isn’t a Presidential election, but there IS an election for Senate in your state and there are potential changes for House as well….
Otherwise, all of the arm-chair talk with simply that: talk. Keep the passion you are feeling today alive each and every election. Choose action and passion over lip service.