Amendments

Hungry and I went spinning class at 5:30 this morning and then headed over to Peaberry to enjoy an Americano. Since we had done so well at working out at the butt crack of dawn we thought we would treat ourselves to a cup of coffee. As we stood in the kitchen talking, I asked him if he knew anything about Amendment 47. I know that is kind of a random conversation, but the previous day I had seen two totally different commercials for amendment 47. The commercials were both done exceptionally well. Unfortunately, the way the commercials were presented I would have simply voted for whichever commercial I had seen. Lucky for me I saw both, which made me question how they can really represent the same amendment in such different light. It seemed as though the second commercial was only to confuse the voters. Hungry explained amendment 47 too me (or tried too), but unfortunately he too was confused about what amendment actually meant.

Since today is the first day of early voting and I am off of work...I thought I would take the time to actually read all 14 amendments and 4 referendums that are on the ballot this year. It is so sad that election is so dominated by the presidential campaign that many people over look the local ballots. I started reading the amendments and was a little unsure of the language that they were using. I feel as though I am an educated American. By no means am I a brainiac, but I am smart enough to carry on an intelligent conversation. However, the more I read the less I understood. If I can understand the amendments language how would a high school dropout be able to do it? Since I was struggling, I decided I would call my interpreter (mom) and tell her to get online and help me read the amendments. We both read them (independently) I told her what I thought they meant and she either agreed, elaborated or corrected me. I am sure she was thrilled to read all 18 things on the ballot for the state of Colorado (since she lives in Florida), but she was a trooper. Luckily for me, I only interpreted 1 amendment completely wrong.

Swallow comes walking through the dining room as I am sitting here making notes of how I am going to vote for which issue. I immediately informed her that she will be voting this year (since she has point blank said she doesn't want too). Before she could respond one way or the other I went off an a tyrant about how she needs to vote on the local amendments, that will effect our day to day lives today, tomorrow and for our children. After I was finished ranting, she informed me that she did plan on voting for the local elections and that she would be writing her name in for the President. I was happy to hear that she did want to vote on the amendments, but she was quick to inform me that she had no idea what they were (I think she said that because she knew I was researching all of them, weighing the pros & cons, and writing notes about each 1 individually...and she knew I would give them to her, so she didn't have to do the research on her own).

I finally finish making all of my notes (which took almost 2.5 hours), she mentioned that I could leave them on the table and she would look them over at dinner. I just turned around and smiled, happy to know that she will at least be educated about what she is voting on. Early voting starts today, and I feel pretty confident in the choices I have made. I am happy to go and vote and get it out of the way. Unfortunately, I am extremely excited to be done with this election! I am sick of the political debates, the random arguments that I continuously bite my tongue through, and the idea that people really think it is okay to try to convince me that their political opinions are the only ones that are correct. I find myself in situations where it is clearly evident that people are trying to convince me of something I already believe in, only because I will not open my mouth and talk "politics" with the crazies!

Vote! It is a right, but it is also a luxury I hope you don't take for granted!