I went by the Board of Elections and voted today, which is a privilege that I am still grateful for. I have travelled the world enough to know that this is an opportunity that many people never get, and I am thankful to have lived in a country that affords me the chance to participate in the process. I can’t say that I was excited by anything I saw on the ballot, or that I am heavily invested in the outcome. It’s not that I don’t care, it’s just the understanding that pretty much nothing we’re hearing or seeing in this season is rooted in truth.
In my lifetime, I have watched the pendulum swing back and forth between Republican and Democratic administrations, and though they claim to be apples and oranges on the campaign trail, they tend to grow the same bad fruit once they get in office. I’ve lived too long to buy into the narrative that one of them is the good guys, and the other is the bad guys, or that any of them is losing sleep over my situation or the condition of my family. I certainly don’t think either party is a reflection of my value system, so it’s always a challenge to find a candidate to believe in.
The nature of democracy is that whatever the majority believes will set the tone for the future, and all I have to do is turn on the television, or the radio, or go to the movies, to know that my belief system has moved to the fringe of our culture. Perhaps more importantly, I’ve come to realize that the quality of my life doesn’t really hinge on these people. While their decisions will certainly impact me and my family, we will be far more affected by the people we live with everyday. And so the thought of alienating family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers over these issues seems a foolish path.
In a couple of weeks, all of these races will be decided, and we will be faced with the consequences of our collective choices. Many will immediately be disappointed with the outcome, while for others, it may take a year or two to realize that it was never what it pretended to be. How we handle that disappointment, and how we relate to each other will make all the difference.
Thankfully, I’ve learned not to invest my hope for the future in who is sitting in the White House, or walking the halls of Congress. The day after this election is over, and regardless of how it turns out, I will go back to doing the best I can for my family, my neighbors, and my friends. For me, this election cycle is over, and it’s time to move on.
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Bjcorbin's Blog 
Casting My Vote
Posted in Commentaries, Social / Political, tagged candidate, Congress, democracy, Democrat, election, majority, Republican, vote, White House on October 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I went by the Board of Elections and voted today, which is a privilege that I am still grateful for. I have travelled the world enough to know that this is an opportunity that many people never get, and I am thankful to have lived in a country that affords me the chance to participate in the process. I can’t say that I was excited by anything I saw on the ballot, or that I am heavily invested in the outcome. It’s not that I don’t care, it’s just the understanding that pretty much nothing we’re hearing or seeing in this season is rooted in truth.
In my lifetime, I have watched the pendulum swing back and forth between Republican and Democratic administrations, and though they claim to be apples and oranges on the campaign trail, they tend to grow the same bad fruit once they get in office. I’ve lived too long to buy into the narrative that one of them is the good guys, and the other is the bad guys, or that any of them is losing sleep over my situation or the condition of my family. I certainly don’t think either party is a reflection of my value system, so it’s always a challenge to find a candidate to believe in.
The nature of democracy is that whatever the majority believes will set the tone for the future, and all I have to do is turn on the television, or the radio, or go to the movies, to know that my belief system has moved to the fringe of our culture. Perhaps more importantly, I’ve come to realize that the quality of my life doesn’t really hinge on these people. While their decisions will certainly impact me and my family, we will be far more affected by the people we live with everyday. And so the thought of alienating family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers over these issues seems a foolish path.
In a couple of weeks, all of these races will be decided, and we will be faced with the consequences of our collective choices. Many will immediately be disappointed with the outcome, while for others, it may take a year or two to realize that it was never what it pretended to be. How we handle that disappointment, and how we relate to each other will make all the difference.
Thankfully, I’ve learned not to invest my hope for the future in who is sitting in the White House, or walking the halls of Congress. The day after this election is over, and regardless of how it turns out, I will go back to doing the best I can for my family, my neighbors, and my friends. For me, this election cycle is over, and it’s time to move on.
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