Freedom and Power

 . . . by Cori Tyler

I haven't gone on a rant for a little while, so why not start now?  I figure I'll throw one of the unspeakable topics out there.  Sort of.

Though we're a training organization, politics affects us.  Of course, it affects all of us, but since we particularly work with an area that is always contentious, firearms and self-defense, often the fighting and bickering hits us pretty close to home.  Chances are, if you're reading our blog, I don't really need to preach about those topics, or specifically I can't likely give you a whole lot of food for thought that isn't already in your own head.

I want to instead go with something else.  Voting.

Is there a more taboo subject in the taboo of discussing politics than voting?  I don't think so.  Everyone seems to want to tell anyone who will listen how they should vote.  Well, I'm trying to avoid doing any such thing.  I think the liberty to vote for the candidate of your choice is one of the many great freedoms we have here.  My interest here is in getting everyone to appreciate what that means.

You get to put your choice in writing at every election.  Every single one!

I think a lot of people have watered down the importance and strength of each vote.  How many times do you hear someone say if you don't vote for the big two candidates, you're wasting your vote?  "They", whoever "they" are, tell you that any other choice takes votes away from someone who actually has a chance at winning.

Think about that a minute.

Why would they actually have a chance at winning?

It's our votes.  They only win if enough of us vote for them.  Yet, every election, I hear people talking about choosing what they saw as the lesser of two evils.  If you really didn't want them in office, why in the sweet, blue monkey crap did you vote for them?

See, this two party bullshit is a self-fullfilling, defeatist prophecy.  People pick the lesser of two evils because they want a guarantee they're voting for a winner.  Of course, this only solidifies the hold a bunch of jackasses (whether shaped like donkeys or elephants) have on government, and our nation.  At this point, all they want is to grow and solidify their power bases, and wealth.  None of the ideology matters to them anymore.

Want to know the real difference between Democrat and Republican parties?

There is none anymore.

Of course, maintaining their power means they have to convince you and me to keep voting for them.  That means they have to exclude any other options, and divide those supporters.  They have to make other positions, other candidates, seem futile.  Want proof?  Who has heard of the Libertarian Party, Tea Party, or Green Party?  I bet all of you have.  I bet you might even remember some of the candidates they've run.  You may have even said to yourself that you liked one of them, if only they had a chance.

It's time to make that change.  We're coming up to a midterm election this year, and a general election in just two years.  Here's my challenge to each of you.  It's the same thing I'm challenging myself to do.  Vote your conscience!  If there's someone running for office who you like for that office, VOTE FOR THEM!  Don't overthink it based on party affiliation and who holds the power.  You hold the power.  Your only means of truly exercising that power in the voting booth is to vote your conscience.  If everyone did this, you might be surprised at where these politicians would learn the power really lies.