In an election such as this, where the candidates look different but have voted so similarly on so many topics (everything from taxes to gay marriage, and beyond), it's up to the "young, twenty-something, college-aged hipsters" to figure out exactly what's up with each candidate before they vote. I highly doubt there would be so much press surrounding this election if people WEREN'T informed about the candidates on an individual level
( ... )
Are you kidding me? There wouldn't be this much press surrounding the election if people weren't informed?
IT'S THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. There's going to be press either way. And since when is the press dictated by what the people know? We, as citizens, don't create news broadcasts. It's out of our hands.
I'd also direct you to read my post again, where I clearly state that I know not everybody voting for Obama did it for the scene points or hipster cred. But you'd be a fool to deny the fact that there are a great deal of people who voted for him for just those reasons.
I also didn't say that the only reason people were voting for Barack was because he's black. I didn't say anything close to that. I said that a number of young idiots are voting for him because it's the hip thing to do, and the fact that he's black probably lends some weight to their decision - along with him being young, handsome, not a Republican, not "George Bush, Jr. (Jr.)" or whatever other superficial reason can be lumped in there.
I'm sorry, I just don't think we're going to agree on this-- People just straight up don't vote at ALL before they vote for someone based on 'hipster cred'! The only reason I can think of that a relatively uninformed or politically inactive person would vote for Obama over McCain would be because he's young, 'liberal' (according to popular media), and isn't George Bush. And none of that smacks of hipster elitism, seeing as all three of those things are BASIC TRUTHS.
I think that might be kind of a deconstructionist way of looking at the whole thing. I guess I simply can't see voting as being 'trendy,' foolish or not. But I also can't see the point in not voting.
I came in here to tell you my own reasons but it looks like Meredith summed them up.
I love you Corey. Don't feel like you need to explain yourself. I'm glad that you did what was right for you. just don't generalize people in our generation.
We are going to get healthcare now.
My dad, experiencing PTS and now retired from the military, will get the benefits and medical support that he deserves and worked for.
I am in love with the hope that I feel. I feel hope. I am proud to call myself American right now. All over the globe right now, countries are clapping their hands for America.
Hey, I love you too, lady. And I'm not generalizing our entire generation. But you can't deny the fact that voting for Obama IS seen as the hip thing to do, and there are surely people our age who voted for him just to BE hip.
Like I said in my post (which apparently went unnoticed by Meredith), I know a lot of people have good, solid reasons for voting for Obama. But you also can't argue the opposite - that they're voting on what they see on the surface. In the same sense that it was hip and fun to make jokes about Bush being a dope, it's hip and fun to back Obama.
Not for everybody - but for some. I don't consider you a "voting for Obama because it's hip" person. Far from it.
That said, it was great watching the coverage with everyone here tonight, and both speeches were really great. It truly is an incredible time, and I'm proud to be living in it - I just hope that the faith I've lost in our country can be restored.
RIght now, I am going to support our new administration starting on the 20th and work to get others out there in the community.
Koinonia has an even more viable purpose now too!! Did you know that Obama has pledged that any young person willing to give to their community in any way, will get an investment from the government towards college. That means you are making a difference now! You have the support of our Government. Holy shit man. I am so used to being cynical and depressed. I don't know what to do with all of this positive emotion that I feel towards the gov.
We are actually a part of it now. Amazing. I love you so much!!!!
I'll just spread the love for now. haha.
Also, I agree with you on the speeches. McCain was poised and i feel that we caught a glimpse of the old mccain, back when he WAS a maverick.
I still can't get over my hatred for Palin though.
I really appreciate you posting this Corey, I love the last few lines. I felt really alienated by this Presidential election, more so then in recent years. I have had many talks with many different people. I voted today, but I was more so concerned about local and state races then anything else. This is where I think the real change comes from when it comes to the issues that have to do with things that I feel are important to me
( ... )
Thanks for the reply, buddy. I'm glad that there is a radical change occurring in our country right now, and I'm confident in the fact that a majority of the people who voted for it did so for the right reasons. I don't think that anybody I know personally is on the Obama train to Hipsville. I genuinely think that anyone I know personally who voted for Obama did so for real reasons.
By the way, I tried starting a USA chant in my living room tonight and nobody else joined in. I like to think that, if you were here, you would have been chanting along with me.
I, too, did not votebodymodconNovember 5 2008, 06:28:39 UTC
Sometimes I wonder if it's the right thing or not. I've only lived in blue states so I can fall back on the net of the electoral colleges if I choose. This year felt different though. While not an Obamaniac like a lot of Chicagoans I heard a lot from him and of him that gave me hope that a person could retain their integrity on the campaign trail. His negotiations for peace across seas, his speech about racism in America, an economic policy meant (I saw) to feed into the struggling education system. Any fan can list off his merits.
I think the way we go about electing our leaders in America is something a lot of people have trouble accepting. I don't understand how a politician effectively works other than he talks with people and helps bring people together and decide policies. I think this vagueness frustrates people so they shoot down the role with any number of reasons.
Jon Stewart, when asked how the Bush admin was able to get away with things, he said 'because Americans are busy' and the admin can rely on that. But I think this
( ... )
You pretty much hit things on the head with this response. I know that there are a mass of people who voted for Obama (or for McCain) who did so with solid intentions planted in solid foundations. Then, of course, there are those who voted for him "because he's not the other one" or because it seemed like the cool thing to do. I mean, let's face it - we both know tons of stupid people. And it's real easy for stupid people to get behind something popular.
I'm not bitter or negative or anything. I like what Obama says and I agree with the changes he speaks about. However, at the same time, I don't have enough faith in politicians to be 100% sure that he'll live up to those promises.
If he does, then it'll restore my faith in this system and in this country. I want to feel like my vote and my opinion matters, but for so many years, it has seemed the exact opposite.
It's a tough nut to crack, but I hope that we're close to cracking it wide open.
just to let you know, I'm a big supporter of Obama and I definitely don't think he's going to live up to all of his promises. I mean he has a plan to get us out of Iraq in 16 months, and really it would be amazing if he could do that, but I'm not going to be too surprised if it "snags" or something, and I really don't expect to be able to have surgery for free by next year. But I think politicians have to be thought of more as broad strokes, who though they do have the "direct control" of the policies etc. they are constantly tied down and basically can only very slowly steer things, but I think having Obama as a leader is important now because frankly, I think this country needs that "hope" message, however trite it may be. Just a gradual change toward actually trying to take care of those struggling might really be what we need right now. Anyway, that's why I think voting is important, and it does make me a bit sad you didn't get out and do it.
Yeah, I don't expect every change he talked about to happen. And it's not like they'd happen the second he took office, anyway. Everything takes time and everything takes hard work. And that's what it's going to take before I can honestly put my faith into him.
I'm not anti-Obama, and I think you all know that. I'm just politician-skeptical. I've had my hopes dashed before, and while I am hopeful that change is coming (and that change has already happened), I just wasn't ready to put all of my faith into this one candidate.
Comments 16
Reply
IT'S THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. There's going to be press either way. And since when is the press dictated by what the people know? We, as citizens, don't create news broadcasts. It's out of our hands.
I'd also direct you to read my post again, where I clearly state that I know not everybody voting for Obama did it for the scene points or hipster cred. But you'd be a fool to deny the fact that there are a great deal of people who voted for him for just those reasons.
I also didn't say that the only reason people were voting for Barack was because he's black. I didn't say anything close to that. I said that a number of young idiots are voting for him because it's the hip thing to do, and the fact that he's black probably lends some weight to their decision - along with him being young, handsome, not a Republican, not "George Bush, Jr. (Jr.)" or whatever other superficial reason can be lumped in there.
Reply
I think that might be kind of a deconstructionist way of looking at the whole thing. I guess I simply can't see voting as being 'trendy,' foolish or not. But I also can't see the point in not voting.
Good for you for being informed, though.
Reply
I love you Corey. Don't feel like you need to explain yourself. I'm glad that you did what was right for you. just don't generalize people in our generation.
We are going to get healthcare now.
My dad, experiencing PTS and now retired from the military, will get the benefits and medical support that he deserves and worked for.
I am in love with the hope that I feel. I feel hope. I am proud to call myself American right now. All over the globe right now, countries are clapping their hands for America.
AUGH! I'm so so happy right now.
Love you.
Reply
Like I said in my post (which apparently went unnoticed by Meredith), I know a lot of people have good, solid reasons for voting for Obama. But you also can't argue the opposite - that they're voting on what they see on the surface. In the same sense that it was hip and fun to make jokes about Bush being a dope, it's hip and fun to back Obama.
Not for everybody - but for some. I don't consider you a "voting for Obama because it's hip" person. Far from it.
That said, it was great watching the coverage with everyone here tonight, and both speeches were really great. It truly is an incredible time, and I'm proud to be living in it - I just hope that the faith I've lost in our country can be restored.
Reply
I hope so for you too Corey.
RIght now, I am going to support our new administration starting on the 20th and work to get others out there in the community.
Koinonia has an even more viable purpose now too!! Did you know that Obama has pledged that any young person willing to give to their community in any way, will get an investment from the government towards college. That means you are making a difference now! You have the support of our Government. Holy shit man. I am so used to being cynical and depressed. I don't know what to do with all of this positive emotion that I feel towards the gov.
We are actually a part of it now. Amazing.
I love you so much!!!!
I'll just spread the love for now. haha.
Also, I agree with you on the speeches. McCain was poised and i feel that we caught a glimpse of the old mccain, back when he WAS a maverick.
I still can't get over my hatred for Palin though.
Anyways, have a good day bubs.
Reply
Reply
By the way, I tried starting a USA chant in my living room tonight and nobody else joined in. I like to think that, if you were here, you would have been chanting along with me.
Reply
Reply
I think the way we go about electing our leaders in America is something a lot of people have trouble accepting. I don't understand how a politician effectively works other than he talks with people and helps bring people together and decide policies. I think this vagueness frustrates people so they shoot down the role with any number of reasons.
Jon Stewart, when asked how the Bush admin was able to get away with things, he said 'because Americans are busy' and the admin can rely on that. But I think this ( ... )
Reply
I agree with you on that hope. We can all work together now for a better future. It's not just him that won, it was us who won.
Sorry, I'm leticia. Nice to meet you.
I'm just so happy!!!!!!
Reply
Reply
Reply
I'm not bitter or negative or anything. I like what Obama says and I agree with the changes he speaks about. However, at the same time, I don't have enough faith in politicians to be 100% sure that he'll live up to those promises.
If he does, then it'll restore my faith in this system and in this country. I want to feel like my vote and my opinion matters, but for so many years, it has seemed the exact opposite.
It's a tough nut to crack, but I hope that we're close to cracking it wide open.
And I hope it's an almond inside.
Reply
Reply
I'm not anti-Obama, and I think you all know that. I'm just politician-skeptical. I've had my hopes dashed before, and while I am hopeful that change is coming (and that change has already happened), I just wasn't ready to put all of my faith into this one candidate.
We'll see if that changes or not.
Reply
Leave a comment