We are 35 days from the midterms.
Call me crazy, helicopter-y, or still thinking I’m in control, but I am more concerned about my boys’ college midterms than I am the country’s. The boys’ midterms are in the next seven to ten days! 😱
The Midterms in Tennessee are not that exciting to me in general. I am however energized by the prospect of our first female governor in this state. While it is for all practical purposes a two-person race at this point, three of the top four polling candidates are women! A Republican candidate, a Democrat candidate, and an Independent candidate.
What I find fascinating and disheartening, is that neither “side” is taking the third party seriously. Instead of a clarion call for moderation and forward thinking, this race has devolved into “your vote is either for me, or you’re throwing your vote away.” How on earth does that inspire the new young voters thoroughly disillusioned with party and process? Where is the discourse? Where is the “every vote counts” idea trotted out during every election season?
I am saddened that the candidates are allowing political party ideology to run roughshod over a process that could truly be an opportunity for the silent majority to finally speak. Don’t talk to me about Independent voters pulling from worthy candidates or giving away the election to the other “girl”. If that’s your rationale for supporting your candidate, your candidate has a serious problem, or you do.
My vote counts and my vote for an independent should worry you. Your parties (both of them) left me long ago. If you want my vote, earn it, don’t tell me all the reasons why I’m wrong. I rarely show my colors completely, yet I feel compelled to interject a shameless plug for the Independent candidate, Lauren Pinkston here. It sure would be an interesting four years.
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While much has been made of the national Midterm elections, I do not forsee an overwhelming powershift. I do, however, sense a building of momentum against the the current state of affairs. If that momentum gains some traction, perhaps it will flip the Senate. The House will almost certainly favor Democrats—every news outlet says so. Same song, different verse.
The real question is how long can you keep the public’s attention? Can you keep it long enough to make effective change? Frankly I don’t think so. But if we’re going to try for change (and we certainly should), may offer a word of caution? Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it. The “anybody but _____” type of voting yielded our present mess from the President on down.
My desperate desire to put the brakes on the current Executive Branch does not mean I’m ready to throw all of Congress out on their collective ear. However satisfying that might be in the short run, only a steady, focused, strong Legislative branch can truly balance out and limit the Executive branch. We need people in place to stand up to overreach and sometimes those people are ones who have been there a while, know how it works, and plan to be there longer than this administration. (Term limits is a topic for another day.).
The scariest thing to me about our current political climate is the continued attempt to polarize voters as mentioned earlier in this post. While polarizing has always been present—it feels really, really, really strong this time and to the detriment of our electorate. Instead of moving to the middle in an attempt to capture the moderate voice, those running for office continue to push towards the edges. Differentiating oneself by being “more” red than you, “more” blue than you, “more socialist” than you, “more against something” than you, in my opinion will continue to backfire. Look at us now. When the voice of reason disappears from the conversation, the resulting power vaccuum leads to a series of candidates who behave badly and yell at each other about each other. No problems are worked out. No compromises are offered. The voter is once against cast aside after their vote is tallied. Promises are not kept. No wonder voter alienation is so widespread.
I think the alienation of the potential voter has never been larger than right now, likely due to this polarization. I do not have evidence to back up my opinion, but wouldn’t it make an interesting poli sci thesis? 😉 What would happen if we tossed all the party crap out the window? It sure would be interesting. It could be worse, but it might be better….
November 3 will arrive come hell or high water (and we’ve had both this summer). I can only hope you, the voter, will do your due diligence, research your candidates, and VOTE! America is still here. Our Republic is battle tested. Democracy continues to win. Red, white, or blue, I choose you America, every time.
Love y’all so big!
Marla
