Wednesday, January 20, 2010


We watched the Massachusetts Senate election results come in via the internet last night, our hearts sinking as the night went on. I didn't need to see how my hometown went - the fact that nearly every single person I attended high school with is a devout Republican gave me my answer before voting had even begun. Still, it was hard to believe the results.

How is it that we have so little patience now? Somehow Americans managed to be ceaselessly patient when it came to eight years of wars started under false pretenses, corporate/government shenanigans, selling off our public natural resources to the highest bidder, and more. But now, now even The People's Republic of Massachusetts can't stand one more day of it. Throw the bum out!

On a brighter note, the newly-installed governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, has made some efforts to create an atmosphere of what seems to be a genuine sense of bipartisanship.

Which way will things go from here?

ETA: If you don't mind strong words, here's a take on the Mass election. No apologies.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

i thought of you all when i heard the results...

Nathan said...

in my view, the democrats are only the smallest bit better than the republicans.

real change comes from all of us working together.

Robyn said...

You are right, Nathan. In some ways it is just plain silly to get upset about this - for just that reason. On the other hand, I think we learned a lesson on how different they can be with Gore/Bush in 2000 onward. I read your post(s), and agree with much of it, especially about not running away from the discomfort.

What really makes me uncomfortable about the whole thing is that the people I have heard from, who voted for Brown, did so from a place of selfishness - I can't think of any other way to describe it. Their attitude is: we don't want anyone taking our hard, earned money away to give lazy, poor people health care. I am paraphrasing but that is the gist of it. It is hard to live with that - to know my former neighbors and classmates work and live from a place like that. I am still digesting it....