Etarran Sums Up the American Federal Election

Actually, unlike the Canadian election, I have some things to say about this one.

Though I am of course tempted to spend this post going "woo Obama yay Obama yay!", and just generally painting a big Fuck You Republicans sign all over the internet, I imagine that will be amply taken care of by those both more numerous and considerably louder than I am. I desperately hope that an Obama presidency can do some things to stem the tide of failure and disaster that seems to be issuing forth neverendingly from the Western world, but that remains to be seen. Though I - surprisingly, given my general cynicism with regards to politicians - find myself able to believe that his ideals are good, I also must make note that, as with any leader, ideals must give way to issues of practicality and popularity. I wish the world would recognize that, in general, at least, ideals of peace and environmental sustainability and diplomatic foreign policy and other hippy nonsense are matters of practicality... but of course it cannot do that until the proponents of these ideals start treating them that way.

So, while my initial feeling about an Obama presidency is a matter of cautious optimism, rather than furious elation, there is something from the 2008 election that I am legitimately ecstatic about, and that is the voter turnout.

Despite the fact that an Obama victory was predictable from early in the election, which necessarily reduces turnout, especially in the West, we managed to get a voter turnout over 65% - higher than it's been since 1908. Now, obviously, this could be better, but I think it is trending in that direction. Unlike the Canadian election (voter turnout 59%), in which lackluster leadership, rampant apathy, and general justifiable political malaise have conspired to render half the population voiceless, American voter turnouts have done nothing but rise over the last twelve years. In a world in which each successive generation has been less politically involved than the last, with my generation plunging to new lows of uselessness (28% youth turnout last election, as opposed to 46% this election), this is highly encouraging.

Maybe, just maybe, we can yet prove ourselves worthy of democracy.