My response to the constant claims of low voter turnout…and the fact that I couldn’t vote this time.

The who that lifted what?

“Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.”
Gore Vidal

So the other day I’m contemplating doing my public duty and all…well one of them, I have Jury Duty next month.  So a few cycles back, I was all amped up and running in to be responsible when the lady at the table tells me, “You’re not listed to vote”.  I was all distraught and what not and she explained that since I was registered as independent I couldn’t vote in a primary unless someone was running as an independent.  I took the L (I had to unless I wanted to get physical with an old lady).  So I started researching this situation more and I found out that it sucks like a Hoover in a Black Hole.  I mean check it,  people from different parties run for office.  One election determines who gets to run from which party and the following one determines who wins between the people from the various parties.  So I figure if I’m in a “party” (quotation explanation later) that has no candidate running, I’m a lot more concerned about who wins from the other parties.  If those more in line with my thinking aren’t running then I’ll need to choose the best from the rest, right? No, I get stuck with whatever lame ass chump wins while I’m made to sit things out.  Then I get to pick between (in the words of South Park) a douche and a turd.  I pondered this and only became more vexed when I realized that I’m independent.

in·de·pend·ent -  [in-di-pen-duhnt] - adjective

1. not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself: an independent thinker.
2. not subject to another’s authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free: an independent businessman.
3. not influenced by the thought or action of others: independent research.
4. not dependent; not depending or contingent upon something else for existence, operation, etc.
5. not relying on another or others for aid or support.
6. rejecting others’ aid or support; refusing to be under obligation to others.

How the hell can I be independent if I have to rely on someone else to do something?  That’s the same thing I go through with self-help.  If someone else helps you then it’s not self help…it’s just help.  The person that wrote the book helped you.  If you sit down and figure it out for yourself then that’s self-help.  So if I could just walk into a voting booth without any affiliation and vote for the person I feel is best suited, then I would be independent.  As for now I’m basically co-dependent.  “Somebody please run as an independent so I can vote for somebody!!!”  What part of the game is this?  Buh-buh-but wait it gets worse!!!  In the the state of Maryland, my state, they don’t even recognize independent as a party!  My head is going to fricking explode. They recognize three parties besides democrat and republican, but not independent. So why the hell would they let you register as one?   I’m sure that doesn’t have anything to do with a low turn out at the primary.  Jeezum Crow.  Basically to really be able to vote to the fullest I’ll have to register as a democrat (which blows my private joke of registering as a republican and voting democrat).  Does any of this restriction make sense to the rest of you.  I don’t get any benefits from joining a party, I don’t pay dues to them, so why is my ability to vote restriced to claiming one or the other.  My teenage act of defiance has come back to bite me in the ass.  This is all craziness.  Let a brother vote when it’s time to.  Then again…those black votes don’t support republicans much anyway.  I guess this is just something I have to bite the bullet on to be effective.  It still bothers me though.  If a system is only effective when it’s used how man concessions can one make to participate and still hope to create change?