you won't believe it. you just won't believe it.

I had quite an evening last night talking with someone who thinks and sees the world so completely differently than myself. It was fascinating for us to talk our way around an issue only to realize that we essentially believed in the same end result, but we disagreed on the best way to get there. I had an "Aha! Here's a demographic we're overlooking" moment when he proudly stated that at the age of 29 he has never voted in an election. Anyone who knows me can imagine the reaction I had: Utter and complete shock, a tiny bit of rage, judgment, and finally confusion. Here's a guy who obviously has some pretty strong and well-thought out opinions on issues. Why isn't he bothering to vote?

No one to vote for.

He thought about Clinton and sort of wishes he'd voted for him, but oh well.
He despised G.W.B. for the war, but heard Kerry was going to raise taxes on small businesses. He works for a small business. That's all he needed to hear.
When I mentioned the wealth of 3rd parties he could be voting for he conceded that he probably should be voting for someone.

Here is a guy who works anywhere from 40-50 hours a week. He's self-educated. He's worked hard his entire life in hopes of ensuring a better future for himself financially. He's trapped in a too-bad-you-qualify-for-nothing box; he makes too much money to qualify for home heating help, but not enough to benefit from a tax break. He grew up surrounded by people on public assistance who he always saw as "lazy" so he hates all social programs. He has the option to buy into a health insurance policy through his job, has decided not to for financial reasons, yet still thinks that universal health care is a horrible idea. Believes in the right to die and also believes that death row inmates should be restricted as to how many appeals they get before being executed (we had a really interesting conversation regarding him wanting to pass an amendment ensuring this very thing. I explained that typically amendments to the constitution are there to expand rights not restrict them and that the right to due process is more than a little important to democracy). He thinks that drugs should be decriminalized and that the funding and running of public schools is a mess. He is the biggest believer in capitalism I have ever met.

What most amazed me was that I didn't use my typical bitch slap'em down tactic I am so fond of. We sat there for 5 hours and really listened to what each other had to say. We both conceded that the other one had some good points. I didn't immediately crush him under the liberal leftist logic I'm so quick to use nor did I go off into a blind rage.

Yeah.
I was there and I can't hardly believe it myself.

Oh yeah, looks like the port deal is off.
I'm glad that Congress got itself all up in arms about something that most likely was not a security threat at all, but at least scored everyone a few paltry political points and allowed Americans to continue to feel a false sense of security.
And Condi: Let's not take on yet another "greatest challenge" shall we?
Between Iraq, Afghanistan, and The Elusive War on Terror methinks we've
got our hands full.