ELECTION ANXIETY:
A phrase I arrived at this morning to explain the feeling of helpless unknowing we feel before we head to the polls. We want to have faith that our vote will be fairly counted and our reasons for voting will manifest into reality. However, the past few decades have left suspicion and anxiety in the hearts of many. The lies, false hopes, out of control campaign financing, robocalls and political warfare make us all exhausted.
MEMORIES:
George Bush barely won the presidency in 2000 after the recount efforts in Florida, which to this day remain unfinished, unclear and suspect.
In 2004, controversies and concerns of irregularities emerged during and after the vote. The winner was not determined until the following day, when Kerry decided not to dispute Bush's win in the state of Ohio.
Obama vs. McCain 2008; Election night, NYC. electoral vote counter in Rockefeller Center
Two years later, in the 2010 midterm-elections, voters flip-flop, influenced greatly by new campaign $ from corporations. New funding strategy deemed legal by Supreme Court case; Citizens United V. Federal Election Commission.
Today we are here; In a country completely sold out. With a Republican majority who's noble founding values have been hijacked by corporate interests and tea party extremists.ELECTION NIGHT/ONE VOICE:
In 2004, while living in New York City I encountered this election anxiety in a unique way. I was working in a shop window dressing mannequins across the street from Rockefeller Center on the eve of the vote for Bush vs. Kerry. I had voted earlier that afternoon in a grade school cafeteria in Brooklyn. The war was raging and fear in our nation was a code red, I felt my vote mattered; I took a last look at my ballot and dropped it into the abyss of the ballot box. I never really felt as desperate for my voice to be heard, I was fed up with the direction our country had chosen after 9/11 and I wanted Bush to be stopped.
While at work that evening, I felt as if everyone in Manhattan was holding their breath, an uncomfortable calm and anxious buzz filled the midnight air. The election was too close to call as people headed to sleep, I however was working until dawn. I watched the ominous red and blue banners slide up the side of Rockefeller Center as states were called one by one. Red banner sliding past blue, a pause, and then red banner sliding past blue again. I wanted to run out into the street and cry and yell, but all I could do is excuse myself for a cigarette break. I smoked two in a matter of minutes, there was sweat on my palms and the cool breeze was making me feel sick; I did not like the feeling. At 4am it was clear Bush had won a second term.
At dawn, I began my journey home to Brooklyn as people woke to face the day. The faces were still, voices were tempered and hearts were broken. It seemed to be the second worst experience in New York City since the towers fell, people were shocked. It goes without saying that NY had their interests on Kerry, well not the folks on Wall Street, but that is a different story. The pit in my stomach took days to unravel, life went on and apathy set in.
THIS WEEK:
On Tuesday April 5th, 2011, Wisconsinites will vote again, in hopes we can start to reverse the takeover of our state. We do not want to trade civility and greatness for greed and self-interest in WI. Let us all stand up Tuesday for justice and begin to plant healing seeds in our broken state. In perhaps the largest bout of election anxiety I have ever felt; FORWARD!
