The campaign put out a bunch of wallpaper images last May. I could not parse this one for a long time, until made note of the distinctive silhouette, “oh. It’s a joke about the President’s ears.”

Becca wrote a post about the upcoming elections: In which I consider not voting. She said,

Because sometimes the psychic energy of 150 million Americans (probably more!) not liking me makes it difficult to get out of bed, let alone muster the energy to participate in a national pissing match in which my rights and my humanity have become a political plaything.

Because my throat is dry and my voice is drained and – for one single, solitary day – I would like the personal to not be so damned political.

As of this morning Becca’s post had a couple nasty little comments in response, which surprised and amused me. In general, I find the people who get most uptight about voting and direct action are those who lived through or are still immersed in the political paradigm of 50 years ago. “We ended Jim Crow, we put our lives on the line to stop a war,” they tell us. “What have you done? Gone camping in Daley Plaza?”

In January my friend Beth and I were in a hospital waiting room, killing time until our friend P woke up from spinal surgery. We talked politics a bit with P’s mother’s boyfriend, who did not explicitly self-identify as a former 1960s radical but if I were writing a script that included an aging 1960s-era radical I would write exactly this man.

Beth mentioned how difficult it is to talk politics at the family Thanksgiving table, and that thus she often avoids it. “You really are apathetic,” he said.

I was galled. Beth had spent a few months the previous fall trainhopping with hobos (they call themselves “travelers,” she said). She’s an anarchist polyamorous vegan. Her *life* is a radical political act of subversion. Just, not along the lines that this man valued. Thus, he deemed her decision to allow grace at family dinners apathetic. So it goes.

I’d like to post my response to Becca’s blog, which sums up my current political feelings: post-partisan, still participatory.

November 1, 2012 at 8:59am
ericaricardo says:

I’m a weirdo who believes in federalism and a national executive with limited power, the states as laboratories of democracy, etc. The tenor of both Pro-bama and No-bama talk seems to take as a given that the US Prez could and should be a short-term dictator with infinite power and magical management skills. After alla that 18th century fighting, all we really want is another king. Not apologizing for the man. But there’s only so far you can drive a broken car.

Most of my feelings about politics are influenced by growing up in New England where pure democracy still exists. Each year, the town votes on the budget. Every citizen can have his/her say at the mic at town meeting. Then every citizen can vote. Beautiful, right? My hometown has an aging population that doesn’t want to pay taxes to support the school system. Every year it’s an increasingly dirty shitshow to pass a budget.

So I don’t hold a high opinion of democracy in the context of ownership culture.

I had a good time yesterday going through the entire sample ballot, researching and making decisions about all the local elections. And was surprised that, though I’m generally a Dem, a number of local Republicans will get my vote on Tues. Surprised and pleased. Democracy ☺

Anyway, Becca. You should vote. Don’t do it because it’s right, do it because it will feel good.

and on further thought,

November 1, 2012 at 9:11 am
ericaricardo says:

Gonna add, too: I don’t hold a high opinion of blog comments in the context of ownership culture, either.

Geeze, you guys! You do know death is coming, right?