I feel a bit fatigued, to be honest with you. Obviously, I'm tired of the ads and the 27 minutes of media coverage during a 30 minute program. But I'm also getting tired of my political friends. I get at least a dozen Facebook invitations to rally after get out the vote campaign after fundraiser. And dozens of similar email messages.
All with this fervent undertone of urgency that implies I am somehow lacking if I am not 100% on board. That the fate of the world as we know it rests in my hands.
Well, back in 2004, I did volunteer for the Kerry campaign. I was sent to HQ downtown and forced to make phone calls to other volunteers asking them to come in to make phone calls to other volunteers. It was the most ridiculous waste of time. I never went back. I did volunteer on election day, but was treated like a moron by Kerry's guy on the ground so never went back to that, either. I mean I'll do the drudgery work, but I've got a dozen other very worthy causes that need my time and energy, too so please don't waste my time making me feel important. Just give me a real job. It can be boring. Just real.
This year, a popular tactic seems to be making fun of Western PA's fondness for yard signs. That's not elitist at all. People even have it as their Facebook icon. Get over yourself. We like signs. So what?
Today someone explained the situation with the local elections. It sound serious, but very convoluted. Why isn't anyone taking the time to break down this important information instead of just wasting our time? Stop shoving clipboards in my hands to ask for my email address. Give me good information and ask me how I can help.
If the Pennsylvania House and Senate seats are in jeopardy, why did only one State legislator turn out for a recent Gay Dems event? Or why didn't he bring it up? The only State Legislator that asked for my help is a Republican woman who reached out to me. My own rep's staff is taking days to answer a simple question about a fundraiser. There's a disconnect there.
Frankly, I'm tired. It is never enough. I'm working OT to convince some borderline voters on the presidential campaign. I'm deleting email messages to events I can't afford. I'm trying to process new information that just makes me feel panicky, not informed. And I'm hoping to avoid charges that I don't appreciate the volunteer hours other politicos are putting in. All of which is just bullshit. All of it.
I appreciate your hard work. But you are alienating me when you hit me with all of these intense demands for my time, money and attention. What I'd like to have is information. I'd be happy to talk with my neighbors about our state elections. But I need something to say. Stop mocking me and start educating me.
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I was just whipped into a frenzy by one organization, who told me that John McCain was totally pwning in the polls. I have called for Obama before, but it's seriously like pulling teeth. You talk to all of these Republicans who love guns and hate gays, and there's no way to convince them otherwise.
I work in-between two Republicans, and one of them came in this morning wearing her new glasses “just like Sarah Palin's.” It's a waste of the Obama camp's money to convince these people of anything, and it just grates on my nerves and raises my blood pressure. I write letters directly to Obama. I feel more useful that way.
The trouble is finding a balance between feeling useful and being useful, isn't it? I'm willing to ceed some of my comfort and to trust in the process, but I do ask for some things in return. I've had some good conversations with certain individuals about the election and the issues. I think I've almost convinced two McCainites to vote for Obama — my parents. We'll see. I certainly have more sway over them than strangers on the phone.
I admit I still have problems with the local gay LGBT advocacy community because of their lack of folllow through on the Mayor's pledge to start a City LGBT Advisory Board and appoint more openly gay members to other boards and authorities. The head-spinning switch in focus to the County concerns me, especially since no one will step forward and take responsibility for that initial conversation with the Mayor (and lack of follow through). I want to be supportive, but I'm wary. Transparency is important