are you registered to vote?

more than 50% of the eligible voters in this country didn't bother to vote in the last election. with democrats and republicans looking more and more alike with each passing scandal, an antiquated electoral system that refuses to recognize each vote individually and a corporate-driven media machine that condones all of it, it's no big surprise that anyone would refuse to participate. in the meantime, when they aren't absorbing that one-sided jingoistic tripe on FOX news like it's the gospel truth, way too many red state americans self-medicate by shopping and eating themselves into a pre-diabetic stupor as the rest of the world turns. and laughs.

quite a few states believe that it's fair that ex-felons can't vote. i'm not so sure it's such a good idea to disenfranchise any citizen -- especially one that's paid their debt to society and who's paying as much in taxes as everybody else. then again, absolutely everyone has been disenfranchised from the electoral process at one time or another in america's history, except -- of course! -- white men.

i wonder if there has there ever been a moment when absolutely every citizen in this country voted in any election -- presidential, local or otherwise. the next time some bozo starts yammering on and on about how fair this country this is, i'd like to brain them with a few facts. but that's me.

what's the straw that's going to break the camel's back and involve "apathetic" young people in the political process? instituting a draft, perhaps? hey, it worked with vietnam. and like the vietnam war, the entire nation will probably have to take to the streets in protest to end the mess we're in now. because we all know that the government won't bring an end to any of it. there's way too much money involved. and oil.

interestingly enough, senator obama's camp has presented a simple, straightforward way for anyone over the age of 18 to not only register to vote but to vote in absentia and to find your polling location.

just click here to get 'er done.

i imagine mccain is counting on the swing vote to stay home on november 4th. may this be the year that everyone gets to the polls.