I'm beginning to get a flurry of emails from friends who want me to vote one way or another. I respect their right to inform others, but I'm already on an overload of information. Today a friend sent something about Clinton, from an article about her before her husband was even president, and that I was curious about, so I read it. It's interesting and relevant. And of course it weighs in Clinton's favor that I value my friend's intelligence and even wisdom. So I saved it to peruse more thoroughly later.
What I notice about myself is my reluctance to read MORE even when it might be more detailed, more pertinent, more helpful. Media creates this situation where they throw so much at us that we can't summon the energy to read when something important comes along. We are drowning in trivial details, and won't get on the boat when it pulls up. And I am your basic reclusive voter, so what is it like for others? I don't watch TV news or the debates (I will watch the debates when we have the actual candidates). I listen to classical music not talk shows. I don't read the articles in the paper written for scandal, or to inflame us, or about spouses of candidates or family members. In other words, I try not to see the election as another "American Idol" or "Downtown Abbey".
It's a hairy task, being a voter, in this day and age. I want to be a good citizen, and be informed, but not manipulated and shaped like silly putty. I am a voter warrior, hear me roar.
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