Pre-Election Jitters

[vovat]

I get annoyed when people claim that race isn't going to be a factor in the presidential election. I KNOW race is a factor, because I've heard people say, sometimes explicitly and other times in thinly veiled code, that they don't like and/or trust Obama simply because he's black. It certainly SHOULDN'T be a factor, and I'm sure it isn't for many people, but claiming that it won't be at all is demonstrating ignorance (and probably willful ignorance) that racism is still alive and well in this country. I really hope that people can overcome their racism enough to elect Obama, but I don't think it's a guarantee.

One thing I have to wonder is how many people actually fall for the weird campaign techniques that the media keep talking about. I mean, I've heard that there really wasn't a significant movement of Hillary Clinton supporters to Palin, but you certainly wouldn't have thought that from watching television around that time. And now there's McCain telling people at his rallies that they're ALL Joe the Plumber, and having them define themselves as "[Name] the [Occupation]." But is this actually a big movement in the country, or is it really only the people who attend McCain rallies who buy into it? I know I don't want to be compared to Joe the Plumber. And what also gets me is how the McCain campaign is trying to sell being ordinary as a positive thing. You know, that's not the world I live in. It's always been my thought that everyone wants to be EXTRAordinary, and we all consider ourselves to be better and smarter than average. But now it's apparently a great thing to be average, and "Joe Six-Pack" and "hockey mom" are compliments. Come on, the middle of the road is not where anyone WANTS to be. It's where they end up when they've given up all hope, and don't really mind if they get flattened by a gas-guzzling SUV. I'm a notorious pessimist, and I haven't resigned myself to a life of ordinary obscurity, so I have to wonder just how bleak things are for the people who have. The funny thing is that McCain's poster boy for ordinariness ISN'T settling for an average life, but rather hiring a publicist, trying to get a recording contract, and even contemplating a run for Congress. And if McCain is still trying to sell Joe the Plumber as a typical hard-working American, well, I doubt the guy is fixing all that many sinks while on the campaign trail with Johnny B. Goode and Sally Six-Pack. I'm just saying, is all.

Incidentally, Joe's actual last name is Wurzelbacher, which I assume means that he's from a proud line of manufacturers of circus organs.

Another election I'm concerned about is one in which I can't vote, because it's in California. After the judiciary system decided that gay marriage was legal, some genius decided to let the public vote on it. I say there are some issues too important to be decided by the masses. I learned in my high school government class that our system isn't supposed to be based simply on majority rule, but rather on majority rule WITH a focus on minority rights. I mean, do you think slavery or segregation would have ended if it had all been up to the voters? So why should the majority be able to choose whether or not certain people can get married?

Comments

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

I think the point of the OP was that, while most average people want to become extraordinary, the message from McCain/Palin was that Joe the Plumber and Susie Six-Pack were just fine with being average and that we all hate those people who got those gosh-darn educations that Joe and Sue can't afford for their kids! They shouldn't be so high-striving, showing off how far they've gone (and y'know, how'd they got there, anyway? *wink*)

If my toilet backs up, I won't call Joe, because he's not a plumber. But more than that, I'd like some smart person to invent a toilet that won't back up! (PS - I don't think that "smart" person can only be smart via college degrees, but he ought to be able to go to college without bartering his soul)

[vovat.livejournal.com]

If my toilet backs up, I won't call Joe, because he's not a plumber.

He'll also probably be too busy recording his album and answering policy questions to bother with your toilet. :P

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

I didn't see that as being their point at all. If anything, I see their message as being that we're all regular guys, and as such we all deserve the opportunity to be able to work hard and get ahead in life (and go to college!). It's that whole pursuit of happiness thing.

As for Joe, he most certainly is a plumber. Because he works for a plumbing corporation, he's not required to maintain his own license (which I don't personally think is a good idea) but he's been doing the same job as a licensed plumber for six years or more, and has been in an apprentice program for three years. Like his opinions or hate them, he is what he is.

None of this really matters at this point, of course; we've all but seen the last of Joe, who from what I've heard is trying to capitalize on his sudden fame (as most of us would) but probably won't get anywhere. I'd imagine we've all but seen the last of Palin and maybe McCain, too.

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

he is what he is

OK, I accept your definition, he's a plumber.

I'd imagine we've all but seen the last of Palin and maybe McCain, too.

I'd be so happy if that were true about Palin. As for McCain, if he isn't the president, he'll still be a senator, which is, in some ways, even more powerful than a president.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't necessarily mind seeing more of Palin if there's no chance of her gaining any power. Her total inability to answer questions is pretty amusing.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

If I was McCain, I'd go off and have a happy retirement in southern climates! He's certainly earned it, and doesn't exactly need the money. But McCain seems to be one of those people who's happiest when he's performing services for his country, no matter what they are.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

If I was McCain, I'd go off and have a happy retirement in southern climates! He's certainly earned it, and doesn't exactly need the money.

And he might well already have a house down there that he forgot about. :P

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Actually, all those houses are in his wife's name. I want a wife like that! You know -- rich.