So that's a problem, I guess. Fucking aging.

Right? I am way older in more ways than physically than I was in 1992. And I am way more jaded and disgusted with the idea that my vote actually counts than I was in 2000. It gets complicated.

java, I am with you - and mostly entirely like you, as far as demographics - but I don't think it's the same thing. Like, if I lose the mortgage deduction that'll suck, but it won't ruin me. That's not the same as voting for someone who'll take away my health insurance or my right to have birth control, or a long list of important things that I actually need, the loss of which will significantly negatively impact my life.

No, I totally get the difference. What I am saying is that it's sad that people not only vote against their *own* betterment, but against the betterment of the lives of others. Make sense?

My Texan cousin's extended family (mostly his wife's family) over the years has had all kinds of state and Federal assistance (which I support). And yet, "them illegals is ruining the country! And those welfare people need to get to work!"

It's mind-boggling.

I actually want to take this a step further and say that we shouldn't necessarily vote in our self-interest. We should be voting in our country's best interest.

I agree. I actually talked a lot with my sister to (shockingly!) get her to even consider recycling. She has three children. I have none. I have no actual skin in this game past my lifetime but I want us to do something good. How am I the outlier here?

I'm really hoping that Colorado goes for Obama (and Obama wins overall). I was so proud of my new state going blue in 2008, I'd really like to see a repeat.

She has three children. I have none. I have no actual skin in this game past my lifetime but I want us to do something good. How am I the outlier here?

Exactly. Sometimes I feel like I care more about these peoples' kids' future more than they do.

My Texan cousin's extended family (mostly his wife's family) over the years has had all kinds of state and Federal assistance (which I support). And yet, "them illegals is ruining the country! And those welfare people need to get to work!"

I have similar relatives. It always strikes me as finding someone to look down on in order to feel superior.

Exactly. Sometimes I feel like I care more about these peoples' kids' future more than they do.

I just say it out loud now. I am boggled when people won't look ahead. It's weird that I care more about these kids' future than anyone else does. It's just wrong. But people are weird.

No, I totally get the difference. What I am saying is that it's sad that people not only vote against their *own* betterment, but against the betterment of the lives of others. Make sense?

Yes, totally. I know lots of people who don't realize that the Those People the Romney party is talking about is THEM. I don't want to call them idiots (oh, of course I do, I'm just being nice) but they do seem to be existing in a state of perpetual denial and self-delusion.

Well their priorities are wrong and they should feel bad. They should wake up the day after they voted, and think, "What the fuck was I thinking? I don't hate women. Why did I do that? Jesus, I suck." And then they should feel queasy all day and have a restless sleep for two weeks, getting haggard and red-eyed. And when they try to tell their friends that they were sorry they should face scorn! "Too fucking late now, man! Too fucking late." And they should not be invited to parties and sit alone at home trying to play Halo but nobody wants to play with them. Because of the shunning and the scorn.

I'll put you down as "undecided".

My dad says global warming isn't a problem because it's happened before.

And it caused mass extinctions! You know what else has happened before? Asteroids slamming into the Earth. I don't care if there's precedent, I am open to a "no to asteroids slamming into the Earth" platform. Is it too late to get it on the ballot in California?