September 11, 2005
doing my civic duty (because that’s what superheros do)
Here at Friday Playdate, we are working hard to raise two morally and socially responsible children, without the aid of God or the Republican party. In Oklahoma, this can be tricky, as Jesus and the GOP are everywhere. But I do what I can, which includes taking the boys with me when I vote and talking to them about the democratic process.
So far they haven’t really learned much. They like to go to the polls with me because they get stickers and the poll workers make a big deal about how cute they are. Recently Henry has started asking if he can fill in the ballot for me, which is a big NO, although I do let him feed it into the machine. They clearly don’t understand what it means to ‘vote’, nor do they get the concept of elected leaders. Henry can’t remember who our President is, although he DOES remember Howard Dean yelling after the Iowa caucases, and will occasionally tell Charlie that if you want to be the President, you CAN NOT yell. Maybe he is learning something after all.
A couple of years ago, I volunteered for a mayoral campaign, despite the fact that I couldn’t vote in the election (I don’t technically live in Oklahoma City, but in a small incorporated neighborhood inside the city limits. And for those of you who are local and wondering, no, I don’t live in Nichols Hills and no, I did not volunteer for Mick Cornett). I had to take the boys with me when I volunteered, which they loved. The campaign office was a fun place to play, and there were always snacks, and everyone thought they were so cute. They associate electioneering with building forts out of cardboard boxes and eating cookies and covering themselves in campaign stickers, which seems like a good place to start.
Unfortunately, they also seem to associate the democratic process with losing causes, as our Oklahoma neighbors NEVER seem to vote the same way we do. The mayoral candidate we supported? Defeated. The gay marriage ban that we opposed? Passed. BOTH of the presidential candidates we voted for–Wes Clark in the primary and John Kerry in the general election? Defeated. I could go on, but I won’t. It’s too depressing.
Oh, sure, there are moments of victory, like Brad Henry’s election to the governor’s office. But for the most part we are a family of losers. But we are losers who VOTE!
Tomorrow I will be taking Charlie with me to vote in a special election on a bond issue to fund state highway repair. In Oklahoma, 11 out of every 10 bridges are about to fall down (Wade would like me to note that I am exaggerating the numbers, but it’s nearly that bad) and highway repair is woefully underfunded. Like a lot of things in this state, come to think of it, but I digress. Anyway, State Question 723 creates a trust fund for highway repair money. And funds it with a gasoline tax.
And I will be voting for this.
Yes, you heard me, I’m going to vote FOR the gas tax. Why? BECAUSE THE STATE NEEDS THE MONEY. Because the roads are a mess. Because there are no other really good proposals for how to fund this. Because it is our responsibility to step up and contribute and keep the state–or at least it’s roads–from falling apart.
But you can imagine how little chance there is that this will pass, particularly now with the price of gas as high as it is, and particularly in a state as poor as Oklahoma. And so, once again, I will take my son with me to vote for something that I believe in–and then, once again, I will explain to him that democracy means that we go with the will of the majority. And I will chose my words carefully, just as I do when I talk about the President, so that my sons will learn that you can disagree with the man (or with the expressed will of the people) without resorting to name-calling or referring to any visit to the polls as a ‘waste of time.’
Just once, though, I would like to vote and be on the winning side.
And now, in fine legislative fashion, I’m going to tack something completely unrelated on at the end here (you know, like a farm subsidy bill with a flag burning rider attached–completely unrelated! but all one thing): a big thank you to everyone who chimed in about the nail biting–you all had some wonderful suggestions, and it was a relief to hear that none of you had ever ACTUALLY SEEN anyone who chewed his own hand off. We opted, over the weekend, to put band-aids on the worst fingers, which has helped; they are no longer bloody and raw, and are healing nicely. Of course, now Henry is obsessed with the band-aids, and as he was already obsessed with washing his hands, we are having to change them all the time. But at least his fingers look better.
We are also putting all of the Interweb’s good advice about potty training to use. Charlie has been spending some time every day in big boy underwear, which is just shorthand for Having Lots of Accidents, but he is now able to tell us when he pees in his diaper, which is a good start. And I’m all ready with the bribe, too.
Thank you, Internet–I couldn’t raise these morally responsible citizens without you.
Posted by Susan @ 11:51 pm • Uncategorized
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September 12th, 2005 at 1:06 pm, Candace Says:
What I want to know is: What’s the bribe?
And it was quite sad when my then four-year-old daughter was comforting ME as I sobbed helplessly during The Concession Speech From Hell.
September 12th, 2005 at 2:17 pm, M&Co. Says:
You might try those “second skin” bandaids. They work pretty well and are waterproof. And if you can keep them on, you can leave them on for a couple of days at at time.
And now something totally unrelated to what you said.
My God those boys are cute! Love the new picture in the sidebar. And they are wearing matching shirts. AAAAWWWWW…
September 12th, 2005 at 3:16 pm, Susan Says:
Misfit: For just one moment, I thought we were talking about political bribes, rather than potty bribes . . . Charlie chose a Playmobil Prince and Princess, with a unicorn, even! You can see them at the Playmobil website, which I cannot for the life of me link to. Sorry.
M: I like that you have been swept up by my randomness. And the boys chose those shirts themselves–picked them out at SuperTarget, and then dressed themselves alike the day I took the picture. Geeks.
September 12th, 2005 at 4:56 pm, Heather Says:
Wow Susan. I am so impressed. Even though your boys will know you vote for losing causes, they will see that you don’t give up, you keep voting and hopefully don’t become too bitter. And my guess is that the gas tax bill will flop miserably. Who would dare now that the price of gas is so inflated? (And part of me says rightly so.)
Good news about the fingers!
yay!
September 12th, 2005 at 5:14 pm, adria Says:
I am so happy to hear Henry and Charlie are participating in the democratic process. I worked on the John Kerry campaign last year, and Daria was a very good helper and supporter. I will admit I taught her to chant “no more Bush” and “Go John Kerry.” (she did not chant this around Micah’s parents, thankfully, because they are all about Bush and Co.) And whenever I had to make calls or work on the campaign she totally understood and was on best behavior. She went with us to vote. Unfortunately, she did not completely get the Kerry did not win, and that saddens me because she will be 8 years old by the time we hopefully get a good president. When I gave birth, the news was all about who won the 2000 election, and I did not have the heart to write that in her babybook.
Charlie would love Daria’s Little People castle she received last birthday. It came with king, queen, horses, knights, unicorns, and dragons. And she has a castle in the backyard with a pink slide. I wish you lived closer, so they could play save the unicorn or something.
September 12th, 2005 at 10:11 pm, ieatcrayonz Says:
This gas tax thing is a touchy subject. We definitely need to set aside more money for the roads and bridges, but I think there are three important things to note about the state question.
1) I watched an OETA special a few weeks ago that said that most of the money would go to state roads, and that the poorest bridges and roads are maintained by the counties.
2) The majority of the damage to our state roads and bridges are done by heavy trucking, in my opinion. Sure, commuter vehicles do damage over time, but OK is a trucking crossroad. We’ll not only be paying for better roads for our truckers, but more for the goods they transport because of higher pump prices.
3) There is no guarantee that existing appropriations will continue to be earmarks for roads and bridges. If the measure passes, the “old” money could find a way to disappear.
I know I need to do more research, but there are way too many ways for this to fail to achieve it’s goal in my opinion.
I’m actually still undecided. I’ll probably decide when I step up to the booth, unfortunately. Filling up for $46 tonight didn’t help, either.
September 13th, 2005 at 12:40 pm, Jenorama Says:
Oh, I am so happy you commented on Blogging Baby. I love your blog! I have added you to my blogroll. The name of my web design business is Not Before Coffee– I was an English major too. Just loved the sidebar, and the bit about raising the kids without the help of the Republican party or Jesus.
September 13th, 2005 at 1:09 pm, Mary P. Says:
I took my tots to vote with me some years ago. As we strolled to the polling station, I explained voting in terms of getting together to make a decision.
“Say your mother said you could have brownies or ice cream for dessert, but everyone had to have the same. So you and your sisters and your parents would each pick one. Then whichever one the most people wanted, that’s what you’d all eat.”
Not bad explanation for a 3 and a half year old, I thought. So in we go, and on the way out, he asks: “Did we vote?”
When assured that we had, he looked puzzled and asked,
“So where’s the dessert?”
September 13th, 2005 at 8:24 pm, MIM Says:
“. . . without the aid of God or the Republican Party.”
I knew I liked you for a reason.