Every Vote Counts!
Goodness gracious! So much political mumbo jumbo to sift through. It can really get confusing, can’t it? The advertising is crazy. Those politicians and their commercials! You know, I always thought that political ads should be made to be entertaining, like those hilarious Superbowl commercials. Now that would make things more fun, and maybe a little less cutthroat. Aside from the way the commercials can be, it’s incredibly confusing to get the feeling we know what we need to know about our political candidates, and that all the “facts” we hear about are, in fact, real facts. It’s like that disclaimer on the television movie of the week: THE FOLLOWING IS BASED ON ACTUAL EVENTS. So sure, maybe some of those political commercials have facts, but they could be twisted with words to almost become larger than life… like a movie or TV show, and turned around so much that the fact it’s based on really has no truth surrounding the rest of it at all. My point? Get the facts! Just the facts, Jack! LOL!
Considering all of the advertising, stories, news reports, and fluff stories, I started to think about the political groups that represent us as a people, and how they originally came to be what we see today. Throughout our nation’s political history there have been two main parties. They started as the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and these developed over the years to the current Democrats and Republicans. There are plenty of third party systems, but they garner little attention and are not fully respected. That is evident during televised debates when we only see the Democratic and Republican parties represented.
Minor parties usually focus on specific issues and lack broad policy to win a national election. While their presidential candidates stand little chance of being elected, third parties have historically promoted concepts and policies that have been incorporated as important parts of our social and political lives. Some of the key issues originally brought to the national forefront by third parties were: a woman’s right to vote (HECK YA!! 
), child labor laws , immigration restrictions , the reduction of working hours … policy that led to our 40-hour work week, Income Tax, and Social Security.
The most visible third party political systems in the United States are the Libertarian, Reform, Green and Constitution Parties. These are traditionally the most active during a presidential election.
All that aside, I really do enjoy all of this pomp and circumstance that surrounds the electoral process . It’s such a big thing, and, really, it’s soooo entirely American! The best part for me is seeing all of the colors of the American flag being used. Anywhere you look, no matter if you’re out and about, or at home watching TV, it’s a parade of American Flag colors. Driving down the street, lawns are decorated with political signs and custom banners, all colored red, white, or blue. Many city street lamp posts and light poles hang street banners, signaling election season. The decorated establishments are the best! It could be anywhere, too! The take-out counter of a restaurant, a bank teller’s window, the entire ring surrounding a sports field… lots of places hanging patriotic bunting. Ooooh, it’s soooo pretty! It’s been so nice to see everybody getting in to the spirit of election time. Pretty soon, all of the patriotic decor will be swapped out for Thanksgiving decorations, Christmas, and other big events of the season. BUT, let’s not forget a HUGE event coming where we will again get to see more bunting, patriotic fans, American flags, and all kinds of American splendor; Inauguration Day on January 20, 2009.
Who’s going to be Inaugurated in January? Who can say right now? Actually, YOU can say! Get out and vote!!! They offered early voting , but I want to wait until the official day on November 4th . It’s my very first time voting for POTUS, so I want my first time to be done in the traditional way. I’m gonna wait in line at my local district polling station, wear my American flag lapel pin, sign my name in the log book, and cast my ballot when it’s my turn in line. I have a feeling the line might be long. I might stop for a hot dog on the way to the polling place! HAH!!!
See you after the Election!
Lexi
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist 
