xtcian

onward agnostic soldiers

10/3/04

We'd like to interrupt this blog's usual flow of high-powered whining, dime-store reflections on Celexa, self-revealing splurges of egregious starfucking, and turgid navel-gazing to bring you a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT about voting in the upcoming election.

Yes, yes, I know shit like that is boring. But when you're dealing with a political party that will stoop to sub-bacterial levels in order to hold power, previously-ennui-filled citizens like myself have to pry themselves away from their Philip Pullman novels and be massively proactive. Consider it a ROAD TRIP for TRUTH and TEQUILA.

The TRUTH part comes when we keep some Republican operatives from talking a African-American family out of voting. The TEQUILA part comes when People With Brains win back the White House.

My heart resides in North Carolina, where we have had some of the most shady election maneuvers since Chicago corpses voted in the 1960 presidential race. The Republicans sent letters to black families and rural mountain folks that said, to some effect, "Please remember to vote on Tuesday. Also remember to pay any bench warrants or parking tickets."

Of course, they didn't outright say you would be cuffed for outstanding warrants (which would be a bold-faced lie), but you didn't need to. African-Americans and poor people stayed home, and election after election was given to Jesse Helms, one of the worst human beings ever to live in Raleigh (and there have been a lot).

In 2000, the state of Florida had election procedures that rated alongside Saddam Hussein's 2002 Popularity Contest. I'm here to tell you that shit ends NOW.

Anyone who doesn't think the GOP will send a fresh batch of goons to subtly terrorize voting areas in Ohio, Florida, West Virginia and Missouri have blinders on. We are the last line of defense against these assholes.

Do what Tessa and I did: register with The Election Protection Volunteer program. My dear wife speaks Spanish, so we will go to Ohio (or PA) a few days before the election to canvass families that may not know they can vote. We'll hand out the Voter Bill of Rights for that state, and give them all the pertinent information.

A few days later, we'll drive back, to actually stand watch at the polling sites themselves, with election lawyers next to us (or a 5 minute phone call away). We will make sure voters can actually get past the taunting crowds (if any) and help out those without identification.

Important fact: the EPV program is non-partisan. When I go to Ohio, I'm not going to wear a Kerry T-shirt, nor will I give my opinion on who to vote for, even if asked. The mere act of getting more people to vote in itself is a much stronger boon to my party than any naked electioneering.

If I see any of you in Ohio or Pennsylvania, and you mention the blog, I WILL BUY YOU A SHOT OF TEQUILA. Not the bad stuff, either - Cuervo 1800 at least.

Yes, this trip could be a hassle. Or it could be a blast. Either way, you will be more emotionally equipped to deal with the outcome of this election either way it goes because you won't be able to say you didn't DO SOMETHING.