Thursday, October 23, 2008

At first I was really angry when

only a handful of people showed up at the traditional candidates' night last night. In years' past, people have filled the room, standing along the walls and waiting in the hallways for their chance to meet and ask questions of the candidates. Last night, only 3 of the 15 invited candidates attended and only about that many interested residents. So I was mad. In fact, I was furious with my fellow citizens - upset that they would let this opportunity pass so easily.
But what is really going on here? Was there not enough publicity to draw people away from t.v.? Are voters just so saturated with national election publicity that they can't stand to come out for one evening of local politics? Frankly, I think they just don't care. Their lives, their families and their survival are taking all their time and energy. They seem to focus on the issues that affect them but not the very people who will decide those issues. They are so busy railing against the soda and beer tax that they can't see the forest for the trees. Who do they think wrote that tax into law?
I'm going to vote early today and not stand in line and visit with folks and experience the atmosphere of the polls. I think the process has been ruined for me. Why not - who really cares?

1 comment:

Dawn Fortune said...

If it ain't on the net or the nightly news, it's not worth looking at. We have devolved into a passive society, wired for sound from the moment we wake up until the moment we fall back asleep. We hook into the information stream and blast ourselves with data and chatter so insipid that it curdles our brains and prevents us from thinking independently.
I didn't go to my local candidates' night here, but not because I don't care or don't know what's going on. I do care, I do know, I have even already voted. I educated myself and have cast my ballot. Now I spend my time volunteering and educating others. Perhaps some in Pittsfield are doing the same.

Or they might just be lazy, ignorant slugs.