The election

I recently had a discussion with a friend about the election and the outcomes and why I am glad Obama won, and why he was not so glad about it. It made me realize that different personal issues can really make a huge difference in how someone views the election.

 Let me preface this by saying, I voted third party, I knew Obama would win in my state and feel that third party voting in the US has turned into a way to get some new ideas introduced in the 2 party system we have, but I did not expect my third party to win. However, if I were voting in a swing state, you can bet I would have voted for Obama, no hesitation at all.


For me, the election was a LOT about social and feminist issues. I wasn't able to vote in any of the states questioning the legality of same sex marriage so that was only on the back burner for me, however, the presidential election could also influence that a lot, so it was on my mind. I realize that Obama's plan for social assistance will not solve all problems and will probably run the country into debt more so than it is now, but I also realize that at least he is trying to do something for the issues that arise. Obamacare will not cover everyone, nor will it solve the "healthcare crisis" but I think it is a step in the right direction. I know many people do not get treated for things because they are not covered by insurance, and they probably put themselves at a much higher risk for long-term issues down the line. Further, I understand the arguments that welfare is just feeding lazy people (sometimes it's true) but without providing any services to our poor and disabled we are forcing them to continue being poor, but in worse conditions than they are now. Many social service organizations provide job training and clothing for interviews to encourage these people to get work, but when there are no jobs, they are also there to provide food, shelter, and counseling to these people. But MOST importantly, I want to be able to know I will have access to birth control on my health insurance, I want to know that abortion has a fighting chance as a last resort if I were to have a major issue, and I want to know that someone else's values are not being forced on my vagina. To me, even though I don't necessarily agree with everything Obama said, I know he was the only other choice (in the US system) to Romney, who I also don't agree with on a lot of things. That being said Obama is my choice, and I'm happy with what we have. There will never be a candidate that I agree with 100%, and because of that we have to pick the lesser of the two evils.


For my friend, the issue of the election was swayed by his personal wealth. He is not happy where he is in life, he is not feeling that any of Obama's policies have helped him directly and he thinks that changing that will help him. He specifically told me "my personal wealth has not increased, and Obama is supposed to be for the middle class, what about me?" Keep in mind that he was "let go" from his job about 2 years ago for stubborn behavior and was unemployed for quite a while before finding a job that paid about 1/2 the salary of his last job. I understand people are suffering from the economy, but it struck me as odd that he would hope for Romney (who would leave him uninsured and with limited resources if he were to lose his job again) instead of Obama. However, I did not fully consider what the changes would be for an unemployed man in his late 40s with 6 kids (not my friend). My own personal issues also guided my feelings on the election, which I knew, and forced me to see things in a very narrow light. Although, I am soo happy that the senators and representatives with uninformed and ridiculous statements about rape were voted out.

With some of my other friends I discussed mandatory voting, and my discussion with my friend about personal issues guiding the election made me realize that mandatory voting would at least force everyone to make some kind of decision that would be closest to their opinion. But with mandatory voting, we would need a much better education system about the choices, we would need to direct our focus on the election not on voting ads against someone, but on education about all of the candidates views. And this would require much more than one day off to vote (I did not get the day off) but would require almost a week worth of education to cover the issues, the topics, and their proposed solutions. Even once we got the lessons we would have to somehow convince everyone to understand that not all of their proposed solutions will come through, they are not promises, but hopes.

I voted to support myself, and I think most voters in America did as well. I can only hope that that man in his late 40s with 6 kids voted for himself too.