Category Archives: Politicals

Net Neutrality. What it means and what you have to do.

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I’ve been hearing about Net Neutrality for a while now. Up until recently, I didn’t let it concern me and I never bothered to understand it. Suddenly, this morning, in gigantic letters across the internet, I started reading things like “the end of the internet as we know it”. That’s pretty heavy stuff, but what the hell does that mean and how does it effect me? I’ve decided that the best way for me to understand this was to put it in simple terms.

Net Neutrality via Wikipedia:

Network neutrality (also net neutrality, Internet neutrality) is a principle proposed for user access networks participating in the Internet that advocates no restrictions by Internet Service Providers and governments on content, sites, platforms, on the kinds of equipment that may be attached, and no restrictions on the modes of communication allowed.

From http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~raylin/whatisnetneutrality.htm

Simply put, net neutrality is a network design paradigm that argues for broadband network providers to be completely detached from what information is sent over their networks.

This basically means that the internet should remain as it is…the wild wild west: No laws, no rules, free speech. OK, that’s cool. So why is this being threatened and why do you have to worry about it?

We all know that corporations have way too much power as it is. They tell legislators what to do, they tell me what to buy. That’s all good and well, until they begin controlling the media as we’ve seen with FOX News. When you have a corporation telling you their version of a story (and only their version), you’re never sure what the truth is. In America, we tend to think there are two sides of every story. Right? At least I do. So what happens when mega-corporations band together and control the internet? They decide what you should see, hear, and how fast you should get it. But wait, don’t they already do that? Yes, some sights do and they control the content of their sites. What this could mean is that they control the content of all the sites. When you search for something on Google, Google will decide what it wants you to see. OK wait, but doesn’t Google already decide what it wants me to see? Yes. Google filters it’s search results in order to give you the information it thinks you want. It’s a pretty smart engine and but as far as I know, it’s not telling me what pages I can and cannot look at.

This could also mean that sites hosted by say, Verizon, would load faster than sites hosted with No Name Brand X. Why does this matter? For one, it’s stupid. Why should Verizon sites get the upper hand? Shouldn’t all sites load the same no matter who owns them? All sites should be equal in the eyes of the internet. This would also mean that bigger, more powerful companies make the rules. They decide, not you. It means that whatever Verizon or Google want you see, is what you will see. It could potentially mean that smaller search engine companies will be forced out of business.

Let’s say there’s a car race between two companies. Verizon, in this example, owns the race track and also own the cars being used in the race. Verizon, will obviously give their drivers a faster, better car. They might also tell their drivers what hazards the track poses and that you can only make 2 pit stops (I don’t actually know car races, so bear with me). Brand X, doesn’t have a choice. They’re given a Pinto and aren’t told the rules of the game. Verizon wins the race. Seems unfair, right? Well, duh. In this scenario, people watching the race won’t know Verizon had the upper hand and believe them to be a superior company, buying their services and products, while Brand X, looks like an idiot as his Pinto smokes to a finish 3 hours later.

That might have been a stupid example, but it basically means this: Corporations should not be able to buy the upper hand. The internet should be fair and everyone should have the same rules and access. What if the library told you which books you could check out? Right now, if you wanted to, you could start your own web hosting company from your bedroom and might do some nice business in your town. With these new rules allowing corporations carte blanche, you wouldn’t stand a chance. Right now, you can blog whatever you want, post videos of your cat dancing, watch porn, read news, and access whatever sites you want, even sites from competing companies. Say Verizon is allowed to do whatever it wants. They wouldn’t want you looking at AT&T’s site, so they’d make it load slower, put up road blocks, and ensure that the search engines always lead you to them.

Hmmm. Who else controls what the people read, see, and hear? Ummm, North Korea? If you want to know what no Net Neutrality really means, read 1984. How far can companies go? Do we really want to find out?

Here’s an even simpler way of putting it:

So many problem arise in this country because people sit on their asses and don’t speak up. We lose our rights and freedoms in small enough chunks that most people don’t notice until one day they’re all gone. Net Neutrality is just one scenario. You need to know about it, you need to get involved. That is, unless you want the corporations telling you how to live your life.

Save the Internet
http://www.savetheinternet.com/

Sen. Franken: Stop the Corporate Takeover of the Media

Town Hall Meeting

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After a long flight home from Illinois, AJB and I arrived at the house and made an immediate about-face to attend today’s Town Hall meeting with Representative Adam Schiff in Alhambra. Despite how utterly exhausted we both were, we felt it was our civic duty to attend. As someone who cannot afford health insurance and hasn’t had job provided health insurance in a while, I’m all for reform. AJB has his reasons, but I don’t know if I should get into it or not. Let’s just say we both want reform, we both want more affordable health care, and we both see this new bill as a good start. Furthermore, we are both astounded at how blown out of proportion this issue has become and how easy it is to sway the ignorant masses. Euthanasia? Really?

I expected there would be a huge crowd and after watching these events all over the country on the news, I knew we’d be in for some good old fashioned protesting. All I can really say was that it was indeed a spectacle to behold. The passion and volume on both sides was intense. While walking through the shouting crowds, I felt a sense of democracy at work. I felt as though I was a part of something important and that years from now, people will talk about these town hall meetings and I can say I was there. The energy level was palpable.

I took my camera and captured some of the moments from the day. Both sides are represented.

Without further comment…

>>>Read more about Health Care Reform in America. We need it. We really need it.

Yes We Did!

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Barack Obama was just announced as The President. We are overjoyed! I can’t tell you how amazing this feels. I am at a loss for words. In this historic moment, I am so thrilled to have been a part of it. This changes everything. Prepare yourself for a new world.

I grew up hearing stories about historic moments and people saying they remembered where they were when certain things happened. I will always remember that today, AJB and I started early. I didn’t want to wake up, but I began to think about Barack and how on the day his beloved Grandmother died, he got up and rallied for the win. If he could do it, I could. Sure, I complained a little, but once I got my coffee, I was good. Today was an easy day. AJB did most of the walking and he walked his ass off. I drove and did some, but today, I was at my end. After 4 days in Vegas, I felt like we’d done all we could and was ready to take a nap and watch CNN. We quit around noon and came back to the hotel. Our eyes glued to the TV, fretting that perhaps we could have done more. Did we do enough?

There was also the added bonus of feeling shunned by the lead Vegas Obama group. Last night, they asked us to show up, but once we got there, they didn’t need or want our help. Their main staffer, Nick, apparently has some sort of hero-complex. Can’t talk, saving the world, he seemed to say when he couldn’t be bothered to look up from his laptop. Even though we’ve been here since Friday night, we never really stuck with one group long enough to grow a relationship. That being the case, with every new group, they got the impression we’d just showed up and we were made to feel like lightweights. It just didn’t feel like we were appreciated for our hard work and sacrifice. It wasn’t a nice feeling and we were really bummed out about it. We talked ourselves up and told ourselves that even though the Obamateers didn’t give us a ticker-tape parade, we knew what we did here and how hard we tried. It made us feel marginally better.

The truth is, we don’t need a ticker tape parade or heavy accolades, but some thanks would have been nice. And then, after stressing out all day, Obama was elected president and McCain conceded. All at once, none of that mattered and everything we dreamed about, the walking, the calls, the nagging, it all paid off. I am overwhelmed with emotion and can hardly believe that we made it. It’s thrilling and scary all at the same time. Now what? We watched Obama greet the nation as our new Commander-in-Chief and it felt like a dream. Could it be that this country has finally woken up and in my life time, we’ve dared to dream, we worked for this, we all came together, and we made it happen? Wow. Yes, we did.

I’ve already written a lot, but I feel like I should say more. I can’t think of what else to say. This is it. It’s all over, but it’s only just begun. I imagine my new friend Stephanie and her son were celebrating like AJB and I were. What a happy day. I really think this country is ready to move forward.

I should also point out that I am so terribly proud of the awesome effort made by AJB. He has been dedicated the entire time, never wavering, giving his all, worrying, loving Obama more than me, checking the polls before breakfast, and hoping for a better country for his children to live in. I am so proud of him and I am honored to be here with him. Without him, this trip to Vegas wouldn’t be possible and I wouldn’t have been able to invest this level of commitment to the campaign. And this was a great learning experience for us both and I look forward to doing more of this kind of work in the future. I know now what to expect and with AJB by my side, I know it’s possible. I kind of feel like anything is possible now. The future is so bright, I gotta wear shades. Will Wheaton said today that he feels like he got his country back. It feels true and right.

Heading? Second star to the right and straight on til morning.

Day Three: Phone Banking

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Day Three in Nevada. Last night I got a small reminder that I’m actually in a Las Vegas hotel. I lost 12 dollars on nickle slots and we had dinner in a fancy Chinese restaurant at Mandalay Bay. And then I crashed. Total and utter crash. Sleep. Zonk.

This morning, I awoke more tired than I’ve been in a long time. Not really feeling like going out again, I slumped over on the hotel room couch and waited to see if I could get up enough inertia. And then AJB and I talked a bit. This isn’t a vacation. He’s also got work to do and we decided that we’d stay in this morning, he’d work and I’d do some phone banking. Excellent idea.

Now, I’ve never done phone banking, so I was a little hesitant and nervous. Here’s how it works: You visit my.barackobama.com and set up an account. All the information you need is right there in an easy to use format. They give you a list of people to call along with a short script. It takes a few calls to get the hang of it, but once you do, it’s actually really easy. Not to mention, since it’s Monday, most people are at work and all you do is leave a quick message. You can use their script or make up your own. I chose to inform voters about the importance of this election and let them know they need to get out there, but also to be prepared for the long lines and take a book, water, and a folding chair. I think it went pretty well and I feel pretty good about it. I got 40 calls done.

So, if you want to help, phone banking is the easiest way to get the message across. It takes very little time. You do as much or as little as you can. You’ll pay the phone bill next month, but it’s the least you can do to help get Obama into office. If we all pull together, we can do it, we can really move this country into a new and brighter future. Can you imagine? Living in a country where government actually cares about it’s people and provides the fundamental assistance we all require? School, health care, care for the environment, etc? No, it won’t all get better overnight and the truth is, Obama is just a start. I honestly believe that it takes more than electing one man into office. Like during WWII, we all have to work together and make this country better. We won’t have it handed to us and she shouldn’t expect that. We’re Americans. We’re all about the “can do” attitude. We invented the phrase “git er dun”. So let’s do it! Git er dun!

AJB and I will be heading back out to help however we can this afternoon. If it means hitting the streets again or filing papers. Whatever it takes. Tomorrow’s the big day. There is also a chance we’ll be hanging door signs at 6am and then hanging out at the polls to make sure people stay in line. Apparently, the lines are going to be outrageous this year. Nevada is a tough state and has the lowest percentage of volunteerism in the country – which makes sense considering Las Vegas is a town fueled by greed, decadence, and selfishness. They need all the help they can get.

I just heard that Barack’s grandma died today. I can’t tell you how sad this makes me. I’ve lost several grandparents in recent years and I know how hard it is. To lose someone so important on the eve of the election. I mean, wow. It’s so heartbreaking. Just a day away from winning the election (’cause he will, you know). I’d heard that she was sick and I hoped she would make it so see him elected. I don’t think anyone from the Obama campaign reads this, but I would like to express my deep sorrow and condolences for the family. Perhaps Grandma is watching over him now. He’s speaking tonight. How hard must it be to keep going on after a tragedy like this? My thoughts are with the Obama family today.

Canvassing: Day Two

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We started a little later today than yesterday. We lagged. No Obama rally. We also had to switch rooms…not sure why. We got to our canvassing coordination place around noon. I think. We got our orders and headed out to our neighborhood. Once we got there, we were immediately made aware that this neighborhood wasn’t as well off as the one we had yesterday. In fact, not at all well off. This was the kind of neighborhood where you would likely see a car parked in the front yard hoisted up by cinder blocks. Here we found a diverse community of various ethnicities. The common threads were uncared for yards, dilapidated (but modest) homes, bars on the windows and doors, gates guarding the front door, no doorbells, and 9 out of 10 “Beware of Dog” signs. Yet everyone had dogs. Big dogs, little dogs, all barking like mad.

Today was really depressing. Depressing because not only did this neighborhood remind me of where I grew up, but the people there were really bad off. They’re all just trying to survive and hardly any of them are living. One house we stopped at, a friendly old man opened the door and asked us in. It was obvious he had some form of Alzheimer’s disease, totally unaware that you’re not supposed to invite strangers into the house. A youngish woman came to the door and asked the old man to step aside. A couple of rug rats ran to the door. This woman looked overwhelmed and you could read it in her eyes. Her husband, the name on our list, was at work and here she was caring for a forgetful old father and two rambunctious kids. She said it wasn’t a good time and asked us to come back later.

At another house, a withdrawn, stalker-type answered the door and said nary a word. We attempted to talk to him and at least find out if he was voting and for whom. Nothing. OK. So we started back down the drive way. “You thirtsy?”, he said as we walked. We didn’t quite hear him, so he said it again, asking us if we wanted to come in and get something to drink. RUN AWAY!!! “No thanks,” we replied and headed out. This sounds funnier than it was. He was actually really creepy and I dare not think about what might have happened if I’d gone alone. I might not be here writing this. Seriously. AJB and I joked that he had a gimp in the back room or girls tied up in his bedroom, but you know what? You never know about people and he totally had that vibe about him. Shudder.

One guy opened the door and chastised us for interrupting him during the football game. When he saw our Obama pins, he slammed the door. Several other houses slammed their doors in our faces. At a nice looking and well kept home, their 3 dogs started barking at us and began brawling with one another. We could hear the owner shouting at them until he finally came over, kicked one of the dogs really hard in the side and beat him with BBQ tongs. Then he walked away. The girl on our list, came out, told us she was voting for Obama and we left. I couldn’t wait to leave. What an asshole. If you know anything about me, it’s that I absolutely hate animal abusers. Poorly trained dogs should not be mistreated for their owner’s shortcomings. In fact, unruly dogs are a direct result of no training and abuse. I wished I’d kept their address so I could call Animal Control and report him. Fucker.

Roger, a 60-something man talked to us, but hadn’t voted since the 60′s. When we asked him how he thought government could do better, he said he didn’t care. We investigated further and asked him what he cared about. Nothing. He’d managed to take care of himself all those years, never got sick, and didn’t need government. He just didn’t care, he said. He wouldn’t vote. No way, no how. We asked if he cared what happened to his kids. Nope. They didn’t come visit him. This old codger lived alone, didn’t talk to his kids, and didn’t care one bit about the election. It didn’t matter and he was adamant about it. I imagine he has a lonely, bitter life. I just can’t fathom that. It’s not that he doesn’t know about the election, it’s that he couldn’t give a shit. I also sensed that he was a drinker and I believe he’s got reason. What a sad life he leads. When we asked him if he might consider voting to help other Americans who cared and need Obama, he declined. He stated that if he could take care of himself all these years without government, so should everyone else. I suppose government has nothing to do with the streets he lives on, the school he went to as a child, the unions he belongs to, his social security, the TV he watches, the registration of his vehicle, or any other unimportant facet of his life. I guess some people really are lost causes. At least, for our purposes today.

The most heart wrenching family was a middle aged woman and her 18 year old son. Their’s was the only house on our entire list that had any sort of pro-Obama signage in their yard or on their car. A homemade “Obama 2008″ sign was propped up rather sadly on their dirt and gravel front yard. Written by hand in washable ink, the words “Go Obama” on their car. When we got to the door, Stephanie was happy to see us and called her son over because she knew he’d be happy to see us too. They love Obama and will vote for him on Tuesday. We had some extra lawn signs and bumper stickers in the car, so I asked them if they wanted one of each. Their faces lit up as if this tiny gesture had made their day. As AJB ran back to the car, since they were so enthusiastic about Obama, I asked if they might be interested in volunteering the final days. Stephanie told me of her struggles and how life has been more than hard since she was diagnosed with breast cancer and her husband ran out when she started chemo. She told me about how they were trying to get the house in order and clear out junk, but were having a hard time of it. We made jokes about some of her stoner neighbors. We both agreed that Obama can’t cure all ills, but if he makes things just little better, it’s a step in the right direction. What a pleasant woman. I was really touched by her plight and was once again reminded why I’m out here. I can’t imagine what it like’s to be in her shoes, raising a son, fighting cancer, and just trying to make it day to day, but still having hope. And hope is what she had…and what she gave me. Her enthusiasm and good nature were like a shining beacon of light in that dreary neighborhood.

When you hear Obama talk about the people he meets, you feel for them, but you don’t know them. Today I met one of those people and I’m so much better for it. We said our goodbyes, but as I turned down the drive-way, I broke into tears. I cried because this woman has it rough, but remains optimistic. I cried because I know what it’s like to watch someone die from cancer and what chemo does to the body. I cried because Barack Obama has honestly made a difference in this country. Win or lose, he’s already changed this country for the better. We have something we didn’t have a year ago: Hope.

Canvassing: Day One

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Today was a grueling exercise towards my own personal journey in democracy. We awoke before the sun was up. I was tired from the night before. We attended the Criss Angel “Believe” after-party and while Cirque du Soleil after parties are usually pretty great, this one was lacking somehow. Mostly, it’s because I was tired, but also there weren’t a lot of celebs and people didn’t seem to be having the best time ever. Not to mention, there weren’t a lot of things for me to eat (vegetarian and all) and I kind of loathe Criss Angel. We called it and early night, but I still didn’t get as much sleep as I needed.

Early rise, shower, Starbucks. We drove out to Coronado High School to see Barack Obama speak. It was a good sized crowd and we ended up on the main floor about 30 feet from the podium, crunched between supporters and fans. During the entire hour and a half wait, I was pulled, pushed, moved, and annoyed. We were standing in direct sun light and I was dying. Crowded and exhausted. So yeah, you can imagine I was pretty cranky.

Barack was half an hour late. At first, I wasn’t all that into it because I was in a general state of annoyance and I figured he’d simply reiterate his boiler-plate speech – which he did, but after a few moments, I started to feel the energy in the crowd and was reminded why I’d driven all the way to Nevada to help get him into office.

Afterward, we hung out and waited for the crowd to subside before we met up with our canvassing group. We got to our group and waited some more. At long last, we were given our orders and packets with information about where we were going and who we would be talking to. The point of canvassing at this stage in the game isn’t to sway voters to Obama’s side, but to get people already supporting Obama to get out and vote. You’d be amazed that even though they support Obama, they aren’t necessarily voting; for whatever reason.

AJB and I covered 45 houses today. 11 were McCain supporters and 15 were for Obama. The rest weren’t home (more like, pretended they weren’t) or declined to say who they intend to vote for. Overall, the people we talked to were nice, however, one thing we noted was that McCain supporters definitely weren’t as nice as Obama supporters. Another canvasser called them “curt”, which I think is a fair description. The neighborhood we walked was a mixed bag of multi-ethnic, middle class families. From what I gather. We handed out voter information for the area as well as information on how Obama intends to help the middle class.

Needless to say, this is grunt work. It’s hard, you walk a lot, and your feet pay the price. At the end of our trek, I had a nice chat with a man who supported Obama, but didn’t intend to vote. I stated the case and conveyed the importance of this historic election. At the end, I think I might have actually convinced him to take some time off work and vote. Wow. That felt really good. He shook my hand and thanked me for my time. I won’t know for sure if he actually shows up to the polls, but knowing that he went from a “no” to a “maybe” because of me…well, that’s why I’m here.

Back at the hotel, we’re exhausted and hungry. We’ll be back out there again tomorrow. I feel more confident and prepared. Today was nice, I watched AJB do his thing and figured out my own angle. I like the idea of people talking to people, one on one. It makes this election that much more personal.

Pictures from today’s Obama rally in Henderson, NV.

Early to Vote, Early to Aggravation

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Because I’m canvassing in Nevada this weekend and into Election Day, I had to vote early. Forgoing “vote by mail” for no legitimate reason, I decided to travel all the way to Norwalk, about 45 minutes South. Early voting is currently taking place at the County Recorder’s Office. This is the place you go if you need a duplicate birth certificate, but otherwise, you’re not likely to visit Norwalk for any other reason. Mind you, this is the ONLY location in all of Los Angeles that any sort of early voting is taking place, so it’s not like I had a choice in the matter.

I imagined it would take a big chunk out of my day, but little did I know how big a chunk it would consume. My brother and I drove down and arrived a little before 1pm. Immediately, we noticed a lengthy line and sighed. Well, how bad could it be? We got in line, but were quickly escorted to the REAL end of the line; a massive tent filled with rows upon rows of chairs. I didn’t count, but I imagine that there were at least 300-500 people waiting to vote under the tent at any given time. We all sat in order of arrival and waited.

As the minutes dragged, from time to time, someone would get up and direct their frustration at the man with the walkie talkie. He seemed to be in charge. An hour passed. The people next to me gave up leaving an open seat. An older woman with long Grey hair and a peace-loving demeanor sat down. She cut in line. I didn’t really care one way or the other, but she upset several people and got into a shouting match with an elderly African American woman. Back and forth for a bit and several exchanges of rude glances later, this friendly line jumper chatted with me and actually helped the time pass a little faster. She even let me read her newspaper for a spell. Sadly, my iPhone died around the 1 hour mark and I was left without my electronic entertainment. I would resort to idle chat with strangers and joking around with my brother.

Tension continued to rise into the second hour. You could feel people getting anxious. I continued to remain optimistic and knew that I would wait as long as it took. What other option did I have? News cameras came in and out, their vans parked and unparked. Minute blurbs about voter turn out. What a scoop! People continued to argue with the man with the walkie talkie, asking him when the line would start moving. Up until that point, it hadn’t moved an inch. People argued that it seemed the line was not orderly, that some people had cut in line and that several rows of seats were filled with line jumpers. It just wasn’t fair, they cried. The man with the walkie talkie explained himself calmly to each and every person. I felt for the guy; tough job and all.

The line finally started moving into the second hour. People cheered as each row moved on to the next life. One row of seats followed by the next. However, this is when people really started getting upset. They swore they saw line jumpers going ahead. One particularly loud individual shouted at the man with the walkie talkie, got up on her chair, and attempted to rally the crowd to her side. She looked familiar. She was obviously rebel-rousing and complained about the wait when she’d only been there an hour. Try waiting 2. Several people told her to sit down, but she continued to shout about the unfairness of it all. Me? I remained calm, but was starting to get annoyed with all the people getting annoyed. The woman finally sat down after a heated discussion with the walkie talkie man. People were whispering that they knew who she was. Sure enough, she was an actress by the name of CCH Pounder. I had to look up her name. She’s on FX Channel’s The Shield. Yeah, I only knew she looked familiar, but don’t actually know very much about her. BFD. I was like, Shut up bitch. Sit the fuck down. It’s not like the line’s going to move any faster just because you want it so. Sit the fuck down and wait like the rest of us. I didn’t actually say any of that, but I wanted to. Damn. I seriously think she was trying to use her celebrity status to move the line faster. Get a clue CCH, no one knows who you are. Two people thought you were on Law and Order. OK, and can I point out…what kind of name is CCH? Pounder? I barely know her.

After 3 long hours, my row was finally given a half sheet of paper to fill out that read “Vote By Mail Application”. We were told that if we didn’t fill it out, we couldn’t vote. No one knew what was going on, so I got up and asked. Now, what’s this about voting by mail? I was told that California doesn’t actually have a provision for early voting. Therefore, to get around it (and the only way to vote early) you must vote by mail. I was confused. If I was voting by mail, why had I just waited 3 hours in a noisy, windy, tent with idiots complaining about voter dissuasion? Turns out, indeed, I had just waited 3 hours to vote by mail. My ballot was a vote by mail ballot and because all mailed-in votes go to Norwalk anyway, I merely managed to save myself the price of a postage stamp. 3 hours and I saved 42 cents.

What bothers me about this debacle is that not only was I not made aware that I would be voting by mail, I don’t think anyone knew. If I’d wanted to vote by mail, why wouldn’t I have simply voted by mail…from my house? Why would I drive 45 minutes, wait 3 hours, and then do something I could have done from home? For the privilege of using a voting booth? Early voting in California is a total and utter sham! Don’t bother going to Norwalk or any other place. If you can’t be here on the 4th, vote by mail from YOUR HOME! It’s ridiculous. By the time we all found out we’d been had, it was too late and we were all tired and ready to sit in traffic and go home. I repeat, the only way to vote early in California is BY MAIL. There is no need to visit an official office.

Secondly, why the long wait? A little organization and the whole thing should have only taken an hour…tops. You hand everyone a form to fill out. When they complete it, you give them a number on a first come, first serve basis. Each person, depending on where they live, gets a different ballot in order to vote on local measures and propositions. You have a team of interns running around collecting the individual ballots. You call the number, hand them their ballot and direct traffic to an open booth. Simple. Done. Easy. At the very least, you control how many people get numbers at a time…since there are only a few dozen seats in the office.

After I was done voting, I walked around looking for my brother and noticed that there were at least 20 open booths. Open. Not being used. All those people waiting and there were open booths? Good Lord. What the hell is going on here? How hard is it to organize a voting system that gets people in and out in an hour? My entire visit took 4 hours, plus another 2 coming and going. What a total waste of time. I voted. I got my say, but it was a hard road to travel. It was long, boring, aggravating, and took time out of my day that I could have spent getting ready for my trip to Vegas. The people around me and I looked at each other occasionally with a look that read, “lesson learned”. All this talk about voter suppression and I think I understand. It’s not that they’re trying to stop you from voting, it just so happens that the people running the thing are utter morons.

In the end, my frustration stems from mismanagement, disorganization, and deceit. Perhaps it’s omission of information. Regardless, I don’t think half the people there would have wasted the time if they’d known they were voting by mail anyway. My brother asked and was told to complain to the State Controller. Huh? Doesn’t that guy manage the state budget? What does that have to do with organizing early voting? I need to figure out who to complain to and send them a strongly worded letter.

And tonight, we finished off an annoying day with Halloween traditions a day early: “Disney’s The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” followed by “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!” I have clothes in the wash and will pack in the morning. I’m headed into a busy week which includes being forced to see Criss Angel, a Cirque du Soleil after-party, Saturday early rise for Obama rally and neighborhood canvassing, another day of that, and then another, and then another. I best get my Dr. Scholls on.

Remember kids, voting early in California means voting by mail and voting by mail alone. Don’t let what happened to me (and countless others) happen to you.

Canvassing for Obama

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In the past, I never felt strongly enough about a candidate to campaign or even wear a button. They’d get my vote if they were the lesser of two evils. I liked Al Gore and voted for him, but wasn’t excited enough about him to do any real work. Things have changed. I’ve been watching Barack Obama for the last year and one thing is clear: I want to help. Put that into the context of a busy career, an over burgeoning garden, life, Must See TV, and catching up with email, when do I have the time to help? It’s coming down to the wire and I feel that Obama needs more than my vote. I’ve listened to him speak and I’ve watched his body language. Actually, I’m really good at determining what people are about by their body language and it’s something I paid close attention to with Bush. When I first watched him speak, I knew he was a bold faced liar. When I watch Obama, I think, this guy is pretty smooth, but he also seems to really care about fixing our problems as a nation. I like the idea of us coming together to fix our common problems. I like the idea that if we all put forth a little effort, we really can become the America we always knew we could be. He’s an excellent speaker and he says the right things. He’s honest that government can’t fix our problems and government isn’t solely to blame. He’s practical and wise. He’s different. I want to live in a world where yes, we can elect an African American president, but not because he’s black, but because he’s the right man for the job. I want to live in a world where people fix problems instead of making them. I want the corruption to end and I want an economy that isn’t the shame of the world. I want the rest of the world to see us as we see ourselves: That “We Can Do It”, “United We Stand Divided We Fall” country that pulls together when the going gets tough; the country we were during WWII.

That’s why I’ve decided to get off my ass in the final days and push for Obama. The choice is clear. Finally, do something or sit on my duff and watch the world I live in collapse into 4 more years of the same (to use a catch phrase). But it’s true, McCain and more convincingly, Palin, are prime examples of what’s wrong with government: overspending, rhetoric, name calling, bullying, fake plans, saying what you want to hear just to get the vote, tolerating intolerance, and claiming that they can fix all our concerns in 4 years. Right. Good luck with that. Obama has never said he can fix it all in 4 years. That would be great, but no president can. What we need is to hit the ground running, hoist up our sleeves and get to work.

Mostly, I admire a man that can inspire so many. That is he is inspirational has inspired me. I see the way people look at him and think, now that’s a man I want leading the country. A man that can rise above petty disputes and talk about the issues at hand. A man that says, hey, I can’t do it all, but I have an awesome team and I need your help. I mean, jeez, his entire campaign has been publicly funded. That says a lot.

Anyway, I like Obama for lots of reasons. Not because celebrities tell me so or because my boyfriend loves Obama more than he loves me. I like him because he really seems to care. I’ve heard people (my Mom) say he sounds too good to be true. And I think, yeah, that’s accurate. He does. But what if he really is the guy we see on TV, watch at rallies, and listen to on the radio? What if? I think the idea of believing in something so grand is scary to some people. It’s like thinking you could win the lottery. Why waste your time and money? Why hope for something that seems impossible? Well, you have to play to win. Yes, the chances of winning the lottery are slim, but the potential does exist.

Obama has a shitload of potential. He’s got great ideas, he’s logical, rational, and he makes sense. So yeah, I figure if I want change in this country, real change, I need to stop complaining to do something.

I’ve signed up for canvassing in Nevada over the weekend of the 1st. The last days before the election. AJB and I will drive out Halloween day and get up bright and early Saturday morning. Obviously, I’ll post updates on the way. I’m really excited. For me to be this excited is a big deal. Like most people, it’s been easier for me to sit back and watch things unfold and then complain about them at coffee houses. I really want Obama in the White House and want to help make that happen.

Keep in mind, I’m not the kind of person who that has ever actively become involved in a campaign. I never cared enough. I was cynical of Obama in the beginning and like a lot of people felt that he talked a good talk, but wondered if he could walk the walk. I’ve been paying attention. I think he’s got the walk down. And well, if it turns out he’s the anti-Christ, I for one welcome our new Satanic Overlords.

Palin Is The Devil

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Aside from looking eerily like my evil Aunt Sylvia, Sarah Palin is The Devil. In an excerpt from tonight’s RNC speech taking aim at Obama, she states, “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities.”

You can always count on the Republicans for lo-blows. What a bitch. I dislike her for so many reasons.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/03/palin.speech/index.html

Letter to the Mayor

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Here is a copy of a letter I sent to Mayor of Pasadena, Bill Bogaard:

Bill BogaardDear Mayor, when I moved to Pasadena 12 years ago, I was floored by it’s natural beauty, quaint homes, excellent education, thriving culture, it’s history and it’s response to landmarks. This is the city I chose to live in because it cared and preserved it’s treasures. It was a proud place to live in and no matter which direction you looked, you had something beautiful to look at. Recently, however, my view of the city has been obstructed by condos and commerce.

As the condos rose, I complained to friends and grimaced when I passed yet another building slated for destruction. It’s been like watching a loved one slowly die from some incurable disease. Others rose and more are on the way. Now, my own apartment building is on the list. An adorable old house converted into several units, walking distance from everything important. Over the last two years I’ve endured the clanging din of machinery and workers building the Del Mar Station condos. When they neared completion, another structure went up two houses down. Soon I’ll be forced to move from a place I absolutely love, from a place I was lucky to find.

The over development of Pasadena is a crime. The new condos spread around like weeds aren’t beautiful, they aren’t what makes Pasadena “Pasadena”. People are talking and they’re unhappy. As a long term resident, I’m unhappy. Unhappy that I’m losing my home, unhappy that what once was a quaint and comfortable city is becoming overrun with greed. While I understand the city wants to make money and there is an issue of supply and demand, the city is loosing the very reason people want to live here! It’s loosing it’s integrity, it’s charm, and it’s heart. It’s becoming like every other town jam packed with ugly condos and politicians that don’t care about conservation or it’s citizens.

While there are still many redeeming factors to Pasadena, the city herself has changed so dramatically that I hardly recognize her. The over development of Pasadena is nothing more than an open flood gate to crime, traffic, noise, pollution, and a whole slew of people devoid of civic pride. Another example is the strip club on Foothill Blvd. Fact is, if people need to see strippers, that’s their prerogative, but Hollywood is only 15 minutes away. Or maybe it’s closer than you think.

I used to brag to my non-Pasadena friends that the city cared about preservation, that nested in the foothills was this lovely town that felt like a big city but also remained small and honorable. I realize, my bragging rights fall with The Raymond Theater. As I wait for the impending demolition of my house that should be saved, I join the ranks of voters that will undoubtedly take action…even if it means voting for Aaron Proctor.