So, lets get this blog started in heavy fashion.
I was reading through the interwebs this morning and came across this article on BBC news.
Unlike others I have talked to, I am extremely nervous abut this nation's upcoming election. It is no secret that I can be regarded as a hippie liberal treehugger with a smacking of optimist. But despite all that, and despite voting last saturday, I still have a very present fear that our republican candidate, despite his opponent's vast lead, will win the election.
The pure and simple basis for this fear of mine is racism. Have we, as a peoples, transcended this founding hypocrisy of our great nation? Was Lincoln's surgery on the American system adequate to correct its birth defect of bigotry? Unfortunately my answer is no, I don't believe so.
Analysts talk of the Wilder effect, and how it may undermine Obama's projected lead. Despite optimistic articles dismissing the impact of such "closet racism," I fear it will be enough to confirm that this country is not above base bigotry, not above the dark scars that mar its history, and not ready to step into the light that I hope to one day witness.
Either way, I suppose there's not much more I am willing to do about it. I have voted, I have instilled my hope and faith in my countrymen, and I await the final verdict on our baser image as a peoples come Nov. 4th.
-Ty
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I'm honestly trying not to think about it. I'm going to vote, yes. But I'm just going to blindly, desperately, HOPE that Obama wins and creates the CHANGE he (and we) believe in.
ReplyDeleteNot to nitpick, but the Wilder effect is more commonly referred to as the Bradley Effect, just in case anyone reading along is confused.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that racism isn't as negated as we'd like to hope in this day and age, I do think it's prevalence is located to a few specific pockets of America, and if you look at a map that breaks down the projected electoral votes you will see the places where I would guess that racism still really holds are still bright red on the map. However, I think the pockets of racism have shrunk to the point where they can no longer make a significant enough difference in a country that clamors for change.
Additionally, there are a decent number of articles I've read that posit we are actually seeing something of a reverse Bradley Effect. I imagine between both of the effects the numbers come out relatively even, and we can feel confident when every single projection has Obama winning.
I don't know if you've ever seen it, but Five Thirty Eight uses a lot of statistics and analysis and comes up with predictions based on more than just poll data, and they currently give John McCain a 3.3% chance of winning the coming election.
well, that certainly makes me feel better. You have obviously read more articles than I (although I have heard of the "reverse Bradley effect"). That five thirty eight is almost like stat-porn.
ReplyDeleteWith my hopes emboldened I declare the primary objective of my new blog achieved!
-Ty
I too feel better (i.e. not squeezing my eyes shut and holding my nose before jumping off the high board into the 12ft pool) now that I've read the articles linked above. There remain some residue nerves...
ReplyDeleteAlso found it interesting that Five Thirty Eight lists Virginia and Colorado as the top two "tipping point states". I hope Virginia stays blue!
... What is a tipping point state? Can't find the definition.
Tipping Points
ReplyDeleteI also believe that John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate has helped balance things out a bit. Several polls I've looked have shown thet something like 1/3 of voters say they are less likely to vote for John McCain because of the running mate he selected. Certainly many of these people might vote for McCain anyway, and still others were planning to vote for Obama in the first place, but I still think it's a significant figure. While many independents might be afraid to vote for a black candidate, I think perhaps just as many are afraid to vote for a moron.
ReplyDeletewell put. and funny too!
ReplyDeleteYes, because didn't we end up with that in the last two elections? And if I remember correctly, over the last four years the approval rating for the current administration has plummeted to the basement. So there's no guesswork involved when it comes to moronic presidencies.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I suggest looking up the word "moron" in the Online Etymology Dictionary: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=moron&searchmode=none
ReplyDeleteIt has a fairly interesting history.
Hey Ty, nice to see your site. Tien Nation, taking over the intertubes.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the election. I mean, how bad could it be?
http://www.palinaspresident.us/
Thomas
you're right, that's not so bad...
ReplyDelete/shudder