As I sat there watching NBC Coverage glued to the TV and just drawn in by everything Brian Williams had to say I thought to myself this isn't just any election night in America, but this is history in the making. The campaigns fought at times got dirty and nasty and people would debate among their friends, but that's what makes this country so amazing, the fact we are ALLOWED to speak our voice, debate or friends, argue with others! There are countries in this world that people would be jailed or even killed for speaking their minds, debating with one another, or even just an out spoken word that doesn't fit. We, indeed are the best country in the entire world - we are the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. I was one of those voters that four years ago I voted for Obama. Four years ago I watched history once again be made with the election of our first African American President. I was drawn in by just listening to Obama speak, he draws you in. His speeches were of promises that were to come.
I too was also one of those voters coming into this election that was on the fence. Did I want to cross my party lines and vote the other direction or did I want to stand behind who I voted for four years ago? On the fence, for weeks I was on the fence until... UNTIL all those facts started coming out about the other party. WHY in four years was there no progress no fulfilled promises? WHY? Then I learned that for the past four years the other party has done nothing but block and vote down every proposal put forth to better us. Block and vote down? What happened to YOU are elected you work for US, the citizens of the USA. They were doing this to make our President fail, to make him look like he failed. For four years a party spent blocking and voting down proposals that would have sent this nation forward to better times... WHY? Because all they thought about for four years was getting their party person into that Presidential seat. It was this fact that pushed me back to vote my party lines. This fact that pushed me back over the fence to vote for Obama. And it was tonight that history was made again when President Obama because only the forth Democrat to be re-elected as President for a second term.
"we are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people."- President Obama
"It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try." - President Obama
"I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We're not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America." - President Obama
**quotes courtesy of CNN**
It was also the help of MTV Fantasy Election that allowed me to be a more informed voter, along with the debates. I watched every debate and sat online debating my friends about points and issues that were mentioned and how we all felt about them. We all had our opinions, good or bad at least we had the right to voice those that we have! I became a more educated voter is what it ALL came down to. I spoke to a DR that is a straight line Republican who informed me if his party was to win his self pay patients (I'm in this class) would be paying quadruple out of pocket to see him. That even though Obamacare is criticized it does indeed to better for the patient's it was created to protect. Hearing this out of his mouth made me a more educated voter. I tried to educated and tell my stories and support Obama when I could through social status updates. Pointing out facts that were checked and verified by FactChecker.org. Technology and social media had become heavy influences for voter education and an outlet to speak our voices.
It wasn't just the Presidential election that I watched closely. There were other historical landmark elections and propositions that were up on ballots. To touch on a few of them
Massachusetts - Joe Kennedy III at 32 years is was elected into Congress. Sealing the deal that a Kennedy will once again be in Congress. The state also passed the proposition legalizing medical use of marijuana.
Wisconsin - Tammy Baldwin becomes the FIRST openly gay elected Senator in history and the First woman elect Senator for the state.
Maryland and Maine are the first two states to approve same sex marriage through an electoral process.
Colorado and Washington - pass marijuana for consumer use under restrictions of 21+ and regulation. While Oregon shot the proposal down.
California - voters shoot down Prop 37 which would have made it mandatory that companies label all GMOs. I think this prop needs to be put on the Federal ballot, not a state ballot. I believe they should be labeled, but making one state do it in a nation of 50 would create distribution issues ( having a vast logistical background I see this point crystal clear) and price increases. I believe those that support this prop (which I do on a federal level) should take their fight starting TODAY to the federal level. Take this fight to the big dogs! Campaigns for next year will already go into planning phases today and this would be a good campaign to bring into the federal spotlight away from a Presidential election spotlight and give it it's spotlight of it's own.
As you can see - this year's elections weren't just about electing or re-electing a President, but there were other historial votes going on.
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