Monday, October 06, 2008

"She just proves that anybody can be Vice President"

The quote in the title, which clearly is referring to Sarah Palin, comes to me via The Judge, though I believe it was actually Mel who heard the quote first hand.

Sarah Palin's popularity gives me a grave concern. I know of at least two people who are going to vote for John McCain because Sarah Palin is a woman[1]. Never mind the fact that the VP hardly has any real power and therefore shouldn't hold much influence over a person's vote. The greater problem here is the blind ignorance of the voting populace. Even if Palin strongly supported every single women's rights issue (which she doesn't) that still shouldn't be enough to vote for a party which consistently does not support most women's rights issues.

However, I shouldn't make it seem as if only women voters have a tendency to bias ignorance. Obama is young and black, thus he will get votes from the young and black because he must, obviously support what they care about. But is that really true? Does Obama support the issues that are important to young people and black people? We don't know unless we ask. And I don't mean to ask the politician directly, but rather to take a look at his stance on the issues as well as his parties stance. As voters we have to realize we are never voting for just one man, but rather we are voting for a ideology.

It isn't necessary to study every move of a politician or spend hours researching their parties platform. But it is necessary to seek some information beyond just their appearance. And it is also necessary to put forth some element of logical thought[2] and (to at least try) to remain open minded as the election day nears.

But, I am too realistic (pessimistic) to every believe voters will do this. So all I can really do is pray that God will but in the right man in power[3].

1. It's this type of thought that make me think the movie Idiocracy may be more clairvoyant than we give it credit for.
2. By "logical thought", I mean not believing crap like this[4].
3. But God has let us down before.
4. Which can be disproven here[5].
5. Hyperlinks are fun!

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