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Voting Voices
Topics: vote, Voting, Bakotopia, Bakersfield, Primary, 2008, Presidential, blog, Chase Brockett
Posted by Chase Mon Jan 21, 2008 16:22:06 PST
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Voting Voices
With the California primary approaching, young voters seek candidates worthy of their support


By Chase Brockett, Bakotopia.com contributor

It is that time again - time to pick your horses (so to speak) and pray that, although they are politicians, they may actually do something beneficial for this country.

In a process similar to trying to find out which supermodel is least air-brushed in a magazine, we must attempt to strip down the scripted monologues that appeal purely to visceral impulses in order to find the person who we deem best fit to run our nation.

So we vote on it.

The problem with voting is that ultimately, the individual vote does not count. The catch is that once people decide their vote does not count, it actually does begin to matter.

Never mind the amount of effort it takes to get updated on public policies - at least dictatorships make the “choices” easy.

This is what actually keeps a lot of people away from the booths, which is sad considering what many of our ancestors went through to secure those rights for us. In the end though, voting is one of our most influential means for changing society. The ease in which citizens can access the helm of this political machine and the potential influence it carries leaves me with one philosophy: If you do not vote, then you do not complain.



This will be my first time participating in a presidential race. However, I made it to 18 before the last mid-term election and was able to put to use my ability to work a touch screen. By finally participating in the electoral process I was able to realize two things. I realized that the disparity between the amount of issues you are asked to vote on and the amount that you are actually aware of is much greater than you might expect. I left the booth feeling a slight tinge of guilt knowing I was partially responsible for randomly kicking people into or out of offices that I had previously never even known existed. I also realized the sense of lesser god-like abilities you gain by holding that much theoretical control. Rather, I became aware of the potential of the vote.

For those of you who are unaware, we are in the primary phase of the elections which means we are picking the “best” candidates from each party who will ultimately run against each other.

The Republicans lost control of Congress during the 2006 midterms, which means the outcome of November’s presidential election could change the course of this nation. We are at the cusp of a historical race, because whether it is Obama or Clinton who wins the Democratic ticket, it will be the first time either a woman or a black man has won a major political party candidacy.

The Republican Party has also offered up its share of iconoclastic candidates, including not just all white men, but a white Mormon man as well. This race is a significant one.

Personally, these past seven years of the Bush administration have been interesting to say the least. I do not want to get stuck in another 2004 dilemma and be forced into choosing between a giant douche and a turd sandwich (although South Park never made clear which was Kerry and which was Bush). But hey, isn’t anyone at all going to do a better job than George Bush?

Now, for the sake of keeping things even, I will insert the customary “I hate Bush!” and likewise the “Anyone but Hillary!” in order to express the divided community voice. Hell, I will throw in a “Legalize pot!” for the other guy, too. But still, we still have the time to give each candidate one last run through. For the sake of keeping this democracy experiment alive, get out and vote.
Feb. 5 is California’s primary election, and with the current state of our nation the importance of this year’s presidential election weighs heavy. If you work, you should already be aware that you are required to receive time off to vote. If you simply just do not feel like making that long drive to one of the voting precincts, register for an absentee ballot (although for the primary run it is too late).

To find out how to register to vote in your area, visit: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/


Originally printed in Bakotopia Magazine, issue 20, 1-24-08

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Comment From: matt

Thanks Chase - an outstanding voice in Bako! Comment From: AnnieLWhite

great artical, i dont say this too often but i liked it Comment From: krotchdaband

GOOD TIMES..THANX. YOU ALL VOTE FOR THE THINKING MANS CANDIDATE....AND THE ONE THE BIG MEDIA IS ALWAYS RUNNING AWAY FROM...."RON PAUL"...! GET SCHOOLED TODAY. WWW.RONPAUL2008.COM LET FREEDOM RING.! LETS ALL 'RESTORE TH REPUBLIC" Comment From: Chase

I'm down with Ron Paul, but I can't vote in the Republican primaries because unlike the Democrats, they don't allow open primaries to Independents and Decline to States.