A whole week since I last posted — time to shake off the post-vacation funk and get on with business. (What business there is, given the slow economy. Yes, I feel it. Marketing is always deemed expendable when belts are tightened.)
But it’s more than just post-vacation pouting — for the first time in my life, I’m actually fearful of how a presidential election might turn out. (Unlike Mrs. Obama, who, for the first time in her life, was proud of her country this year.) I fear what will happen to our country, and to my own little piece of it. As sick as I am of the election, I don’t know whether to wish the next two weeks would hurry up already, or hope they pass ever-so-slowly to delay any debacle.
It’s an awful feeling — what should be the ultimate celebration of life in a democracy has become for me a day to be dreaded and feared. I can’t believe anyone would have to be encouraged to vote this year.
But if you’re not competent enough, as an adult old enough to vote, to know how to register or how to vote, then I don’t think you should be voting at all. But no worries, I’m sure someone has already come up to you on the street, shoved a form in your hand, and told you whom to vote for. That’s part of life in a democracy too, I suppose. It’s all about taking the bad with the good — all I can do is pull the lever (or touch the screen or punch the ballot) and hope others who think like me are doing the same (and the rest of you are staying home — ha ha). Que sera sera.
Upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.
~ Alexander the Great
Writing by Ear 
robbie said,
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Just had lunch with steel industry business associates. The election is just about all we talked about. To them, as us, this election is pivotal to a healthy business climate for years to come. Any small business person knows there is only one clear choice, the democrat and not the socialist (our lunch companion’s terminology, not mine). The comparison is funny!
WritingbyEar said,
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Love that last bit. I’ve almost forgotten it’s a “lesser of two evils” election, as the lesser evil is far better than the alternative.
Rege said,
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 8:44 am
We have 3 times the normal number of orders on the back log. I’m sick of hearing about the “bad” economy for the last 8 years.
WritingbyEar said,
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 9:30 am
I have to agree — with the exception of the months following 9/11, I have been fine the last 8 years (and businesses don’t get any smaller than mine). This year is my very best ever, even though it’s been slow for a couple months now, with all the election and oil turmoil, and now the financial mess.