At formal dinning events, it is always advised that one avoid three heated topics; Sex, Politics, and Religion. The numero uno reason why, is that these three topics have the most disparging, and dangerous opinions in the world today. If you want to get a heated arguement going, you just have to mention an opinion on one of these, and the night could end in a fist fight. Thus of course, I've decided to write about one of these topics here.
However, before you go flying off at the handle, let me expound a little. This past weekend I visited my parents and sister. While talking about web coding I ventured to show them this webpage. Of course my sister, being the way she is, wondered if I had written anything about the current conflict. Being the way I am, I had not. Invariably, this lead to a discussion on politics in general, why I haven't discussed them and why I might. The answer as it were, might just astound you.
The truth of the matter is that I had begun to write a political discourse on friday. I even had a page set-up for further political editorials. The only real reason I hadn't posted one, was that I had felt that what I had written was so much crap, that I deleted it entirely twice before giving up for the day. As a side note if you will, you might notice that on Friday's I've been writing just reviews on entertainment, this is entirely because by Friday, the whole weeks worth of stress has effectively made my brain taffioca. You might also notice that Monday's articles are always such higher quality then the rest of the week and thus you might presume why.
Politics by their very nature, are actually broad enough to cover the other two topics entirely, as politics are really about one's opinions and beliefs on virtually everything. Thus to attempt to avoid discussions about politics, would be rather pointless as anything you'd write, would reflect your politics in some way. What I'm really doing is avoiding those extremely heated and pointed discussions about current events. I am still voicing my opinion in these blogs, and thus my politics, but I am also doing so only tangently.
As it were, I prefer to write about these things borderly, mostly due to my own personal politics. You see, in life, I am what you'd call a Moderate, or Independent. I have not, and probably will not ever give allegiance to either of the two dominant political parties. I do hold several opinions to be the same as both mind you, but my own personaly beliefs keep me aligning with one side or the other permenantly. Instead I continue to question both sides, as well as my own, and in the process hopefully maintaining some balance and sense of abjact opinion.
The problem arises, is that by not joining one party or the other, when it comes down to it, I really have no say so in the creation of policy. As a moderate I only have the say so in accepting the proposals or not. The upside is, that my vote is more powerful because of this. Yes, my vote is more powerful as a Moderate, then as a Republican or Democrat, believe it.
Simply put, Yes Virigina, every vote does count. Like every drop of water in the river, take away a vote, and it loses its meaning in the flow, add it, and that one little drop will help to shape the course of even the mightest river. Every vote does count, but when you are talking about two balanced sides, a third side can count for a heck of a lot. Lets put it another way. Currently the United States of America is divided into two significantly distinct parties, the Republicans, and the Democrats. Unfortunately, the number of registered voters, only makes up roughly 40% for each party, that is 40% of votes are Republican, and 40% are Democrat, making up 80% of votes. Of the other 20%, Thrid parties make up about 2%, with the other 18% being Moderates. Thus when an election comes along, its almost automatically guaranteed that each party will win 40% of the vote. The other 18% however is what they fight over. Thus even though Moderates don't make up a majority of votes, their votes tend to count just a tad more since they become the fulcrum by which votes can be turned.
Or putting it another way: I could be called a Liberal Conservative, or a Conservative Liberal, but the truth of the matter is, I'm a Strong Moderate. In everything I write, I voice an opinion, on ethics, on privacy, on law, and civil rights. I have since day one been writing about polictics, just like at a formal dinner party, I've been doing it by sneaking it in through the backdoor of discussion. I have also not been conscience of the process, but instead have been just being me. Eventually I will discuss specific topics on politics, but like Sex and Religion, I will wait till the lightning strikes and I'm more informed and eloquent on the topic, so that I might not deprive you of the fun of a heated arguement.