Our election showed that while 60 million people did not approve of misogyny, racism, homophobia, and religious intolerance at least 59.7 million were willing to support it.
However, the more alarming part, to me, is that there were 231,556,622 Americans eligible to vote, but only 131,741,000 actually voted. That means that 43.2 percent didn’t care enough about our future or rights to vote.
Yes, I know that includes felons and those unable to vote due to voter ID laws. I also know that gerrymandering is a real and evil thing. I was there protesting such voter suppression and election rigging the entire time. Were you?
We have the ability to change our electoral system and get money out of politics. Through both a constitutional amendment and state side legislation, we can make the popular vote matter and update our antiquated election system. We can get money out of politics and make the government work for everyone and not just the rich. We can build better environmental protections and EPA standards. We can ensure reproductive rights for women. We can protect our most vulnerable from discrimination. We can make our law enforcement work to serve and protect and bring an end to institutional racism. We can bring about Medicare for all and raise the minimum wage. We can make sure that our Supreme Court is fair and upholds the true principles set forth by our founding fathers. We can make sure that our powerful military both stays the strongest in the world but is used like a scalpel for good and not a butter knife for the military complex. We can enact common sense gun control and end the life grip the NRA has on our government. We can ensure that love always trumps hate and that basic human decency is afforded to everyone.
We have, within our grasp, everything that we need to empower and foster a better world for ourselves and our children. But, in order to impact any change in our system we have to elect people who share our values and ideals on every level of government. That means showing up every time and voting for your interests no matter what. No "protest" votes or staying home because your favorite pony wasn't chosen. We saw a 60% drop in turn out of Democratic voter turn out in 2010 versus 2008 effectively giving the house to the Right. You voted to bring hope and change but then did not back it up with the work to ensure he had the tools and support to make it happen. Real lasting change must happen on every level and branch of government. It's time for you to get involved. Educate yourself on the issues and our system and make change happen.
We, as Democrats, have allowed complacency to impact our lives. The saddest part of this entire election is that the powerful legacy Obama left for us now hangs in the balance with a Republican government dead set on beating its eyes out like Glen from the Walking Dead. You can't blame AMC for this one, folks, it's all on you. Protesting is our right and duty but we have a more powerful tool at our disposal to fix our issues. We have come way too far and worked too damn hard to allow the proverbial rock to roll back down the hill.
Before we can blame our electoral college for the loss we must get people involved in the process. When more then half of registered democrats simply do not show up, we can't blame anyone else but ourselves for our defeat. I am livid that we have allowed this to happen.
Our country is far from perfect. We have real and lasting issues and have had a dark and, at times, ugly past. But, what makes America great is that we are a constant work in progress. A country that continues to progress. We celebrate our strengths, but, more importantly, acknowledge our failures and work on correcting them. It is all within the Preamble to our Constitution.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
We the people. Not just white people, male people, straight people, Christian people, but all of the People. We are a melting pot of differences that should be seen as making us unique and beautiful. Not participation trophy special but a true Queen Beyoncé type of special. We truly are stronger together.
Don't boo, vote, every damn time and on every damn level. Because, as the brilliant philosopher and poet Britney Spears once said, "You want a hot body? You want a Bugatti? You want a Maserati? You want a Lamborghini? Sippin' martinis? Look hot in a bikini? You wanna live fancy? Live in a big mansion? Party in France? You better work, bitch."