You'll have to apologize me for "double posting" one blog after another, but I hardly feel the writer of "I Look Like a Squirrel" will care, since that's been posted four times. It happens.
Dramatic music starts.
Previously, on Bridget's Blog...
Our 19 year old heroine was listing her observations of her time working at the county fair, when suddenly she remembered that a better, more important blog was waiting to be typed. This is that story.
Dramatic music ends. (Sorry, couldn't help myself!)
Yesterday I was biding my time behind the counter of my concession stand with another waitress, waiting for customers to give us something to do. It was a slow time of the day for the fair, so we had a chance to relax.
Then, the Republicans came.
They had visited earlier, asking for Alice (who is the boss's wife), and left a note for her to read when she got back. When they returned, one of them introduced himself to Alice. "Hi, I'm Chris Hackett". It was hard to not notice the political stickers attached to these two guy's shirts, declaring that you should vote for Chris Hackett to get into Congress.
Okay, so this guy was a potential political celebrity. A contestant in the Congressional version of American Idol. Why did something seem amiss?
Then it dawned on me. Mr. I-Should-Be-Your-Congressman wasn't paying attention to anyone but Alice. He was so busy trying to weasel a vote out of the boss's wife that he failed to notice he was ignoring two potential impressionable young voters. A couple a votes he may dearly need.
He didn't even deign to look at us. I mean we were right there--practically next to the woman he was talking to. Is this how he'd run the country? Pay attention to what serves his personal interest, but ignore the issues close at hand? Maybe I'm stretching a bit with this analysis, but this is how it felt to me. To impress me, you don't need to kiss babies, wear a fake smile, and promise things that'll never happen. You need to show that you will actually do something, and that you respect the people who voted for you, as well as those who didn't.
Later that night, I imagined myself going up to the Republicans' stand in the fair and truly speaking my mind.
"May I speak to you for a moment, sir? I know, of all things you don't need, it's more political advice, but as I see it, a Congressman needs to listen to the people he represents. Just consider this some practice for the future.
"You may not remember me, because you didn't see me at all when you stopped by the Concession stand earlier. I'm one of several people you ignored because you were so focused on getting Alice's vote. You didn't realize there were two other voters, one 19, one 25, who might have appreciated a little respect from you. Of all things, you should be focusing on the young vote. Get the younger voters interested in democracy, and get some people on your side at a young age, and you'll have quite the edge over the competition.
"Instead, you didn't say anything, didn't even condescend to look at us. I suppose you are a perfect candidate to represent America, because Americans ignore people in need all the time now don't they?
"Mr. Hackett, you may not be a bad guy. You may be the perfect person for the job. But you just lost two votes today, and I expect a few more in the future."
I hope Hackett finds this. It's not supposed to be like one of those muckraking campaigns to sling mud at his persona by saying he supports foreign oil and hates children or something. I am pointing out what happened and my thoughts about it. This guy even told Alice who to vote for! (McCain is his choice, apparently). Don't the words "respect" and "free will" mean anything anymore?
If I were in your situation there, I would've chucked something at him. Something small and harmless, (maybe a sugar packet or straw or something? I dunno what you had there. ^^;) and then pretended to be oblivious when it got his attention.
It's wonderful fun when I go through the drive thru at McDonalds or Burger King to shoot the straw wrappers at cranky workers. Goodness, I sound mean now, don't I? Oh well. Politicians bug me. If I wasn't a failure at understanding how the government works, maybe I'd run for president or something. That would be neat... a hillbilly as president. ^-^
By the way, I love how you began this blog. The flashback complete with dramatic music was great, and I loved the line "Then, the Republicans came." :)X
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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The Story of Myself
Unfortunately, too many politicians don't take younger voters seriously. Part of the reason may be that us young'uns are an unreliable demographic. We talk the talk, but many of our peers stay home on election day. We can't even compete with those senior citizens (is Alice a senior citizen, perhaps?) who knock each other over on the way to the polls. Even so, I think the everday interactions of politicians show a lot about their character, and I agree with you, it affects how I perceive them.
Maybe you should have remarked loudly to your friend, "Gee, who are WE going to vote for?" Maybe that would have gotten his attention...