Vote!

I got to the polls at about 6:45. My polls are at the Gaylord YMCA, just off east I-44. Oddly enough, this building houses two precints, 703 and 705 (mine is the latter).

I was among the group that was able to stand indoors to wait for the polls to open (7 a.m.); within three to four minutes, people were lining up outside. Had a nice chat with a gentleman named Ron, who was two people in front of me. Ron is a nurse at one of the hospitals on campus, and recognized me.


Oklahoma being a "winner take all" state, my litte vote for John Kerry is likely to get lost in the deluge. But, to paraphrase Ghandi, though what you do may seem to be of little significance, it is important that you do it. It was also important that I vote Democratic in the Congressional elections, so there's some slim hope they will gain a majority. Though I have little regard for Mr. Carson in the Senatorial race, I do have some slight hope he will win, and will be — at least — less crazy than Coburn (his opponent) or Istook, who currently serves in the House.

I was able to vote against the lottery (I think it an inefficient way to raise money). I voted for an increase in the tobacco tax, part of the proceeds of which will be used toward a Cancer Center. I've been assisting with a grant application that will be part of that proposed Cancer Center.

I voted against the state constitutional amendment which would define marriage as being between one man and one woman. The amendment would outlaw any recognition of same-sex unions, and would not recognize gay marriages from other states. Aside from being discrimatory, the proposed amendment is redundant — there being (unfortunately) laws on the books which already cover these matters.

So: follow my lead, and the lead of Dr. Omed. Vote!

In the words of this week's Entertainment Weekly, if you don't vote, you'll be hunted down by ravening wolves.