Election day

[yendi]

If you're a US citizen, and haven't bollixed up you ability to vote by moving too late to register in your new location, remember to vote today. Your vote might matter, assuming the voting machines don't change it, or that any number of dead or fictional folks don't outweigh your vote.

Personally, I'm not nearly as optimistic for the Dems as the folks at Electoral Vote are. That's partially because polls were pretty useless in the last election, partially because I do think the potential for chicanery is still alive and well, partially because I think Dems suck at turning out the vote, partially because I think the press has consistently exaggerated the Democratic advantage (to such an extent that anything short of both sides of Congress, including at least a 45-seat advantage in the House, would appear to be a "loss"), and partially because Democratic Party leaders could find ways to screw up any advantage, much like my Jets.

But I'm still hopeful that some good will come out of today. Rick Santorum seems sure to go down (even if going down probably violates some of his personal beliefs), and that's always a good thing.

Locally, there's an election to decide if grocery stores should be able to sell wine, something that horrifies the local liquor store businesses. Although I'm sympathetic to the plight of smaller businesses against big chains, I find that any time advocates for a position start arguing that they're taking their position "for the kids," (and really what better way to create a teen alcoholic than to sell his mom some Yellow Tail with the Cheetos?), I end up sympathizing with the opposition.

Comments

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

You have no idea of delighted I am at your use of the word bollixed. :D

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Stuff like that = why I married him. :)

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

It's a compelling reason! :D

[yendi]

*kiss*

[ex-bookkeep.livejournal.com]

Polls blow goats. On that we agree.

Any poll of 1000 people tells you what those thousand people think and says little about their friends and neighbors. As polarized as the electorate has been, nationally, these last several election cycles (dating back to '92, I would say), polling has been a losing bet.

These days polls are used principally to create a story where there wasn't one before. Has there been some national wave for GOP voters to finally make up their minds in the past week or does the tightening of the polls over the weekend give the Monday night news broadcast one more story about the election before we can, blessedly, stop hearing about political dueling until after January (when people start declaring their candidacy for President)?

[yendi]

And let's throw in the Heisenberg principle here. Did knowledge of polls influence folks from either party (Dems in overconfidence, Repubs in despair) to stay away, did folks make "statement" votes for third-party candidates that might now have an impact, etc.?

[redfishie.livejournal.com]

Actually it's worth noting, that if you live in NH you can register to vote on the day of the election!

[yendi]

*nod* Alas, no such luck in MA.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

In MN, too. When I first voted, I walked into the voting place, showed my driver's license, got registered and headed into a booth. THAT'S how it ought to be done! These separate registrations things that need to be done early are just an attempt to discourage voting.

[amokk]

Don't worry, there will be thousands of dead folks voting Democrat in Memphis today.

[darth-spacey.livejournal.com]

On liquor sales:

Here in the Great North State, the situation for would-be alcoholics is even less pleasant. Stores can sell beer or wine, but hard liquor can only be sold in liquor stores. Every single liquor store is owned by the state government, and there is generally one liquor store per incorporated town. There remain dry counties, where hard liquor sales (and even by-the-drink sales of any kind of liquor) are outlawed.

Let's see...

Big, locked-down monopoly of a huge money-spinner? Check.
Incentive to hand that over to the private sector? Uh, excuse me?
Reasons why NC is historically a major center of moonshine and bootlegging, and continues to be to this day? *ahem* I'll have to get back to you on that one...

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I voted "yes" for all 3 referenda. I was especially pleased to do so for #1, because the "discount" liquor store we go to has just raised their prices across the board by about 20-25%. Grr. They need competition!