It’s that time of year again: time for me to co-opt John’s blog & flood it with links (hopefully) from feminists. Welcome, feminists!
This year’s topic, and I’m really glad they give us topics, is Why It’s Important to Vote Pro-Choice.
My response is that the personal is the political. It’s a tired feminist line but one that I think deserves a second glance. Politics affect us on a daily basis: whether we’re driving on roads, working, or buying groceries. At the same time, we affect politics, but much less frequently. One of the major ways we do is by voting. We should vote for the people who will improve our personal lives as well as for people who are ethical choices, in the Aristotelean sense (they are not an extreme in one direction or the other).
Every time we go to the polls, we have a chance to affect the future of our society. I have recently had occasion to realize that I am still an idiot idealist. I actually think that politics is an ignoble career goal. I actually think that politicians should be philosophers. I actually think that we should vote for those people we want to see in office. This is part of why I’m a Green; that is, why I vote for people who haven’t a snowball’s chance in hell to win. I think that politicians should be people we respect, look up to, and encourage our children to be. Given who’s currently in office, wouldn’t you want to vote…?
Incidentally, I have often mused at why it is that Republicans are so hell-bent on enacting laws to restrict this personal freedom. Aren’t Republicans supposed to be anti-government-intervening-in-personal/state-affairs?
As women, we have had the vote for 86 years in a month. What have we to show for it? We have had the vote for the lifetime of one person. Can we point to any particular issues that we have affected? I’ve been hearing on the radio that women are finally starting to show up to elections in numbers that might mean it’s becoming normal (there are 52% of us, by the way). I challenge every woman to vote in the coming election. And I challenge everyone who can to volunteer at their polling place.
To sum up: it is important to vote; it is important to vote our conscience; if we are pro-choice, it is important to vote for pro-choice candidates. Make a difference, people; make a difference any way you can.
2 responses so far ↓
1 John // Jan 22, 2008 at 8:45 am
To MoF newcomers: Welcome! In spite of the religion emphasis, we do a lot of feminist posts around here–most of it just tends to be religiously themed. xJane has taken over much of the feminist blogging as of late, though the chronicles of my family’s exit from Mormonism was largely a rebellion against Mormon patriarchy. So xJane, I don’t feel co-opted at all.
One more thought: women have a lot to show for their political participation over the past half century, including more equitable wages (though not at parity yet), laws against sexual harassment, better family leave and care legislation, government support for victims of rape and domestic violence, and legalized abortion. There’s still a long way to go, of course–this is not a time to be complacent!
2 Elaine // Jan 22, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Actually, I think when (a lot of) Republicans talk about government keeping out of people’s business, their real emphasis is on “business” rather than on “people”.
Sorry, that’s my cynicism showing, I suppose. But it just seems like it’s more a Republican thing to oppose any sort of government regulation of business (which they see as interference) but to be just fine with butting in on individuals’ private lives.
And on a more positive note…let me reiterate and reinforce xJane’s challenge not only to vote but to volunteer to work in a polling place. First of all, in a lot of places it isn’t just volunteer work…you get paid for doing it, which is good since it is a really long day. But it is also fun and interesting.
And sometimes people bring you food.
Seriously.
I’ve worked as a precinct officer or precinct inspector (that’s the person who is in charge of the polling place) off and on for…well, I think my first time working was the year Papa Bush won the presidency. It is frustrating as hell, and every time I’ve worked, I’ve sworn up and down that I won’t do it again. But it is also terrifically rewarding and every time I’ve done it I’ve felt like I am making a real contribution to the system.
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