Politicize This: In a polarizing election climate, staying 'independent' is best
Andrew Zaleski
Issue date: 9/9/08 Section: Opinion
Who are you voting for?
If any one aspect of election season turns me off the most, it's the question that begins this column. "Who are you voting for?" is problematic at best; at its worst, the question is potentially dangerous - just ask a Bush voter ("You voted for Bush?! What are you? Stupid?" Then, on cue, comes the verbal berating and degradation of self-esteem.).
Asking anyone for whom he or she plans on voting is equivalent to questioning what their perfect vacation spot would be, or asking how a good first date would go - you discover a great amount about an individual from, at least in appearance, a simplistic, innocent inquiry.
For instance, if I tell someone I'm voting for Barack Obama, it's perfectly plausible that I'll get organized into a neat little box reflective of my beliefs and views (or reflective of what others believe to be my beliefs and views). Immediately, I become a Democrat. Not an independent. Not a former Hillary Clinton supporter. Not an Obama-loving Republican. A Democrat. At once, inevitably, conclusions are made about my political leanings and personal dispositions; I tend to take a paternalistic view of government, believing it should aid citizens and provide them with programs to ease their lives. I'm against the Iraq War. I'm for abortion rights. I love anything that is green, and I want to increase taxes for new spending programs.
But, then again, I'm a Democrat. I love polar bears, especially if it means preventing humans from getting to natural resources. I drive a Toyota Prius, or some other hybrid vehicle, and I can't wait to tell everyone about that (remember, I love anything - anything - that is green). President Dubya? How did he even get elected? Hell, how did he even get through Yale? I love democracy, but seriously - can't we tweak with the system just a tad if it means not voting for a Republican? Oh, almost forgot; I'm a liiiberal. Free money for everybody!
This method of categorization works both ways. There's a box for John McCain, too.
If any one aspect of election season turns me off the most, it's the question that begins this column. "Who are you voting for?" is problematic at best; at its worst, the question is potentially dangerous - just ask a Bush voter ("You voted for Bush?! What are you? Stupid?" Then, on cue, comes the verbal berating and degradation of self-esteem.).
Asking anyone for whom he or she plans on voting is equivalent to questioning what their perfect vacation spot would be, or asking how a good first date would go - you discover a great amount about an individual from, at least in appearance, a simplistic, innocent inquiry.
For instance, if I tell someone I'm voting for Barack Obama, it's perfectly plausible that I'll get organized into a neat little box reflective of my beliefs and views (or reflective of what others believe to be my beliefs and views). Immediately, I become a Democrat. Not an independent. Not a former Hillary Clinton supporter. Not an Obama-loving Republican. A Democrat. At once, inevitably, conclusions are made about my political leanings and personal dispositions; I tend to take a paternalistic view of government, believing it should aid citizens and provide them with programs to ease their lives. I'm against the Iraq War. I'm for abortion rights. I love anything that is green, and I want to increase taxes for new spending programs.
But, then again, I'm a Democrat. I love polar bears, especially if it means preventing humans from getting to natural resources. I drive a Toyota Prius, or some other hybrid vehicle, and I can't wait to tell everyone about that (remember, I love anything - anything - that is green). President Dubya? How did he even get elected? Hell, how did he even get through Yale? I love democracy, but seriously - can't we tweak with the system just a tad if it means not voting for a Republican? Oh, almost forgot; I'm a liiiberal. Free money for everybody!
This method of categorization works both ways. There's a box for John McCain, too.
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