We The People…or are we?

Um…er…well…how can I say it? I think…THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN THIS COUNTRY IS REALLY STARTING TO SUCK!!

I don’t hold grudges. Hanging chads aside. My presidential candidate didn’t win last time and I’m not mad or throwing it in anyone’s (unnecessary war, too many dead, horrible command of the English language much less the country, rotten economy) face. But why in the name of George (Washington, of course) can’t we get it together when it comes to voting???

I went to my polling place today, whistling a happy tune because there was only one person in line ahead of me. My chipper mood only slightly dampened when I had to wait while the child of the woman in front of me was invited by the nice, grandmotherly poll worker to demonstrate all 20 colors of his nifty pen. Nothing against kids but this isn’t Chucky Cheese. We’re trying to fix the country, people!!

Okay, so I show her where my name is on the sheet–just like I always have to do and, finally, I’m on my way to the booth to commit partycide with my marker. I mean I was on a mission.

The first part was easy. Then we get to the amendments and (this is where all of those elementary school standardized tests in reading comprehension come into play) I was trying to concentrate! One of the poll patrol, an elderly lady with hair the color of a cardinal, decided to have a loud conversation, from across the room, with one of the other ladies. She starts talking about how hot it is. Then she starts talking about “that great musical, Menopause.” Then, my hand to God, she breaks into song singing, Broadway style, a song from the musical!!!

By this time I don’t know how I feel about Amendment 3. I just know I want this woman to have a mortal hot flash. 

Later in the afternoon I heard that one precinct in my county got the wrong ballots and 200 of them were processed before anyone caught on. Apparently the same thing happened in at least one other county in Florida.

And, while we’re on the subject of Florida, the gubernatorial (also known as goobernatorial) race became an ebay bidding war with Republican Charlie Crist way out front–$62 million in advertising expenses. He really wants that stuffed gator with a belly full of teachers. Now where do you suppose all that money originated? Could it be the sugar cane growers and big developers who are all ravaging the state’s natural resources?

And then there’s Senate candidate Katherine (Clown Face) Harris who thinks only Christians should hold office and who, at first count, managed to garner a ludicrous 51% of the votes. Get ready for the wedding. Church and state together forever. And, of course, it was too late to take Mark Foley’s name off some ballots by the time everyone realized the REP stood for repulsive.

We the people have GOT to wake up. It isn’t even a party thing anymore. It’s really very simple. Hold the elected officials, from the Supervisor of Elections to the State Representatives, the Senate and the White House, accountable and think before you vote. And the only way to hold the wrongdoers accountable is to VOTE DIFFERENTLY. Above all, vote. Oh, and one more thing, if I hear one more uninformed woman parroting her husband’s political views, I’m going to seek to exhume Susan B. Anthony and start all over again.