This election is the first I can remember where the prevailing sentiment is one of "us" vs. "them." In L.A. literally those who don't believe Kerry is the right choice, are ostracized. One almost can't even consider him ill-equipped to take over a war, rising inflation and an overall fractured country. If you say, "Yes, but Bush started it; maybe he's the best one to end it," your promptly excused from the cocktail party.
And though I wholeheartedly agree with Island about voting to give direction, the reality is the "us" vs. "them" mentality will only get stronger in the remaining days before Nov. 2, and many elections beyond that, rendering any candidate like Nader less and less votes.
With this election, the idea, simply, is retribution. Voting has become a vindictive process by late, and when an observant young person sees how adults act in regard to politics, certainly some will feel turned off. I wouldn't blame this young woman for not wanting to vote. She has a choice of hatred or revenge to vote for, and nothing inasfar as a third-party with a viable alternative to instead put her interests.
So how would I council her? I don't think I could.
