November 1998
s m u g
mysterydate
Leslie Harpold

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So, I went to vote in the gubernatorial and senate elections in Manhattan wearing the most comfortable shoes and layers that could be easily removed. THis was a big election for New York, and a lot of places, so I figured the turnout would be huge. Boy was I wrong.

I was in line behind about 12 people, tops. Behind me, when I went into the booth was another 10 and when I came out another half dozen or so had joined them. This was at 12 noon, mind you, lunch time. So, who were these people?

I expected to see my neighbors, mostly - I live in a totally mixed neighborhood, better than half young hipster types, actor wanna bes, film production crew members, artists and theater rats, and the rest of the people are middle class Hispanic families. My 'hood is very politically active of late, since we stand to all be obliterated by developers rolling over one of the last real neighborhood communities in Manhattan in the name of progress. Everyone I talk to is concerned. A couple of New York Magazine articles drove rents up to double last year, because now it's a "hip" place to live, as opposed to the "jungle" it was once described as when I first got here.

The political issues of Hell's Kitchen aside, here's what took me aback the most:

Everyone there was at least in their mid forties.

What I want to know is this: What the hell is everyone doing that's so damned important they can't come vote? I mean, in New York city, unless you're performing surgery, you can leave your job to go vote, they have to let you. I thought maybe my timing was messed up, so I waited two hours and swung back by the polling place, a local high school. Guess what? Small crowd, same age group. The stats say the voters really came out this time but apparently not the voters my age and younger. I saw two twentysomethings in line, which gave me some encouragement, but next time you wonder why the boomers are ruining the country, it's no conspiracy, its likely because you didn't get off your sorry ass and go vote.

I didn't want to have this experience be one that had to be recounted in this venue, but I get the strong feeling a lot of you aren't taking part in this important cultural ritual that defines just how you are allowed to spend your days. Basically, once you're a registered voter, you trip over to the polling place, show your card, and get in line. You wait abut 10 minutes then you get into the booth, read the names of the candidates and pull the levers next to the names of the ones you think should be in office. Then you go back about your business until the next election. It's fun! Plus, if you vote for all the right people, you get a cookie! Okay there's no cookies, but I bet you could buy yourself a cookie to celebrate that you're now finally taking part in your society and have finally earned the right to complain about the practices of the politicians who govern you.

leslie@smug.com

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