The only thing people are passionate about anymore is the fervor with which they lie to themselves every day, pretending they are honorable, selfless, or even decent. Our society is filled with murderers, drug dealers, and rapists, and to a greater and more insidious extent: the selfish immediate gratification folk. They are the ones who allow their ignorance and their fear to take precedence over the hope they once had, or might still have inside. That hope that they too once wanted to have someone believe in them, that they believed in themselves, and that they could make a difference. To vote out of fear, or for "experience", in my opinion, means that hope is dead. That our society no longer cares what happens to our childrem, our grandchildren, and our dreams. That is is condoning the immediate gratification and self serving interests of the moment. All rationally explained away, of course. All forgetting the hope that lay inside them at one point or ignoring the parts of it that remain hidden.

I'm voting for Obama, in case you need me to spell it out.

I still have a LOT of hope for a LOT of things!!!!

Did you read the post in its entirety? It is about the election and why people are voting for a particular candidate, IMO.

Obama is for change but do you think he will actually be able to do anything?

That is not the point of what I am saying. It actually defeats the purpose of my whole post to ask that, Beach.

Although I will not be voting for Obama I do have much respect for you opinions and views. Well thought out post.

Thank you, MBD.

I heard today 50% of the voters in the last presidential election in NC have already voted. Neck and neck over there... vote early!

Hope is alive.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Place your final bets! The wheel
she turns...yes she turns...

The playful ball bounces this way and that skittering
in her random and joyful sauté...This is your final call!!

So while she whirls and hums and the marble dances here
and there above the colored numbers...

Place your bets...with hope pouring from your heart
a win and glory of reckless spending...a party to end
all parties...exuberance born of youth and happy
anticipation...all could be yours with just one lucky
hop!!"

Sure I did....and now I've read it again...maybe I read more into it than you meant. I don't think that people really think too much about the collective hopes and aspirations of a country when they vote. A lot just want to see change from what we've had for the last 8 years. For the first time, there is the chance that a lot of people will vote based on race rather than the issues. (Which, in part, is probably based on hope too). It's unfortunate, but it happens. I think that it would be good for the country as a whole to have Obama get elected!

What I think is they have forgotten what it felt like to be Obama. They say, ohh I'm voting with experience because MCCain won't mess it up, he knows how it works.

Ummm, Okay.

They forgot what it was like to feel that everlasting hopefulness, that dream to aspire. If they cannot feel it for themselves and for our country, we are lost.

OH...I sure hope you're wrong!!! I've always been a "glass half full" kinda guy, positive outlook, looking for the good in people, and believe ya till you lie to me.

I believe that hopefullness is alive and well, and if I can promote it....here's to it!!!

Mag... have you looked around? Turned on the news, driven down the highway?

Just look at how people drive, for example.

I think that many people are ruled by fear. It is like all the people who moan about how awful there job is, but stay in it anyway.

Yep... and those that are voting not out of true knowledge or hope or belief in the future, those people really upset me.

I drive quite a bit....How would you define the way people drive????

Now I DON"T watch the news a whole lot. Some, but I'm not a news junkie like some people are.

But I DO know about people's driving habits and quirks. Tell me what YOU think.

People drive oblivious. They cut others off, pay no attention to those merging in on the highways, go when they feel like it at a four way stop. They rarely look both ways, they merge at the last minute and cause traffic jams every day. They drive parallel in the left lane, they tailgate and make rude gestures because they woke up late and you are in their way. They don't signal when turning, they don't turn their headlights on when they are supposed to, they text and argue and chitty chat on the phone, and freak the fvck out when I refuse to allow myself to be treated that way on the road. Funny thing is, when it comes to them getting their way or hitting my car, I let them think they can hit my car. Funny, they back off then and realize there are actual people in the cars around them. Their car is nicer than mine, anyhow.

People drive like they live: they are the only person on the road. The only person who matters.

That is just my analogy.. but it is related to hope, or the lack thereof.

LOL....I hear ya about the way people drive these days....and I feel that you are right about some of the attitudes, but I also think that people change personalities when they get behind the wheel too.

ME...I just drive fast....the passing lane is now the right lane.

And you're right. I don't care a damn about the other person if they're in my way. Now I won't run over anyone, but I don't want them in front of me doing 65 in a 70. I could go on and on about other's driving habits. And I have a pretty nice vehicle, but most people in cars don't want to hit trucks. I'll let them anyway and try to have them get the worst end of the deal anyway just for their trouble.

But I sure hope you're wrong about the feelings of the country as a whole, but if you're not, don't you think that it's encumbant on people like us who HAVE the best interest, and hopeful desires to guide the rest of those who don't, and help convince those who can be to have a better outlook????

Ummmmm. Are you aware you just admitted to being one of them? One of the people in my OP?

I drive 70mph at the most(65 speed limit here). I use my blinkers. I use my wipers and headlights. I don't tailgate. I don't make rude gestures or curse at people under my breath(usually). I don't like using my cell phone when I'm not driving never mind while I'm driving.


However I drive a 2000 Mazda 626 that looks like a heap of junk so most people give me a WIDE berth anyways.