It's a big day here at Peeled Snacks headquarters as we all try to get our work done amidst the promise of an election day (and more importantly, the promise of the day AFTER).  We have a somewhat unwritten policy here that on election day, you either vote, or you recently got run over by a semi and are hanging by a thread at death's door.  You could, if you wish, see it as our version of bigotry or racism, except that we're prejudiced against non-voters.

Technically speaking, you don't HAVE to vote.  According to the constitution, voting is a RIGHT, as opposed to a privelage or a responsiblity.  It's something that every couple of years or so, you can feel free to partake in, much like the Olympics or James Bond movies.  You don't HAVE to go do it, though it certainly has its fans, and, oddly enough, its haters.

I certainly know plenty of people here in New York that insist that voting doesn't matter. One friend of mine insists that since New York is so overwhelmingly democratic, there's no need to vote (to him I say, Pataki?  Guiliani?).  Another says that since New York doesn't matter in the presidential races, it's not worth the time (to her I say, all politics is local; that, and move to Florida).  Today, one buddy of mine offered an interesting arguement that I found difficult to challenge- he gets nothing of value out of voting, so his time is better spent working.  Hmmm....

I wonder most of America feels about the time it wasted voting for Republicans in 2002 and 2004.  Given the costs of those votes (cost of waging two wars, cost of indulging the rich, cost of a bloated government, cost of the reputatution of the U.S., cost of the LIVES of our troops), I wonder if Ohio thinks that was all "time well spent."  Apparently, George Bush has a special mission for democrats today, and I'm sure for him that'll be time VERY well spent...

Traditionally, when it comes to fixing elections, Democrats seem to be the party guilty of fraud, whilest the Repulicans are guilty of extortion.  4,000 dead Chicagoans notoriously voted for Kennedy, while 40,000 Ohioans just didn't get to vote against Bush in 2004.  Somehow we preach the virtues of democracy abroad, but fail to implement them at home.  Our nation is actually led by a guy who didn't win, and who got his job by bullying millions out of their right to vote.  And we're trying to export this democracy stuff?

Actually, though here at Peeled Snacks you'd BETTER vote, we don't really care who you vote for.  That's  the glory of our silly little system- providing nobody cheats, eventually the kinks will work out. The pendulum goes to far that way, people will vote it back.  If it comes too far this way, WATCH OUT- it swings back the other way.  So vote, Vote, VOTE.  The system only works if you do.

But I sure do hope that the current government goes down.  Anyone still assuming that this government is doing its job hasn't been paying attention.  This congress only worked 93 days this year, an all-time low, and they spent more than any government, anywhere, EVER.  They loaded the budgets with pork, stole money when they could, and blocked any dissenters out of the political process.  Worst of all, they rubber stamped this disaster of a war, that has put some of my best friends into completely insane, life-threatening situations.  This all needs to STOP!

But whether or not that'll happen with a new government, I can't say.  I assume, though, that it's be a good start.