It’s been a long while since I left the world’s largest democracy to come live in the world’s oldest. I have always been interested in civics and politics and missed the joys of participating in true democratic process. I have voted only a few times in India and now, fifteen years after coming to the US, I am ready to vote again. As a freshly minted American citizen. I couldn’t ask for a more interesting election year to do this.
As an undeclared voter (I am up for grabs, you party people!), I feel like I will have more power in this particular election (both the primaries and the main one in November) than any other time in recent memory. It feels good to know that my vote will make at least an iota of a difference. In California, the Republicans don’t allow independents to vote in the primary election but the Democrats do. I am quite certain, as is everyone else, that McCain will prevail over Romney in the former (as I would have voted despite Romney’s business acumen and experience in “running” things). It’s the Democratic primary that’s more captivating just because of the high brainpower remaining.
Both Clinton and Obama are exceptionally gifted. If either one becomes president, it’d truly be a historic occurrence. Both have quite the same goals for the country despite the vitriolic attacks against each other (see Clinton, Bill on race and Obama’s macaca moment as examples). I have friends and co-workers who are passionate about one or the other but I’d be happy with either being my president. With only a few hours remaining to vote, I am still undecided. I probably won’t decide which way the cursive goes until the curtains are drawn. Some of my friends are voting for Obama because they are convinced that he’s more electable against McCain than Clinton. This might very well be true but for an independent like me, I am not so much against McCain as my Democratic friends are. I believe in checks and balances and politicians of all ilk are bound to screw things up if left unchecked. A Democratic Congress plus a Democratic President is likely to be as bad as the potent combination that ruled us six of the the last seven years. In different ways, perhaps. But there is much homework to be done before November rolls around. All the best to the three candidates that matter today.
I will leave you with some of my favorite opinions/articles regarding this election (I have been reading up vigorously over the past month or so):
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