I want change!
Living as I do in this beautiful state of Pennsylvania, known variously as the Keystone State or the We-have-screwed-up-liquor-laws-and-a-conspicuous-lack-of-cool-stuff State, I felt it my duty to go take a stand for what I somewhat believe in on Tuesday. Being at the same time a great idealist and an incurable skeptic, I found the experience interesting but slightly futile. I really do want Barack Obama as the future leader of America, mostly because if he manages to do even a quarter of what he promises about lobbyists and open-book contracts, things will be considerably fairer over here in the good old U.S. of A, and because I agree with his stances on most of the social issues. My agreement is fervent enough to merit me skipping school to wander around a neighborhood handing out flyers reminding people to get out the vote, which is exactly what I did on Tuesday. I'm not sure how effective that ploy was, since:
-The Obama campaign seemed to have forgotten that people work during the day, making them unavailable to listen to me persuade them to vote.
-People who were home tended to hide from us under the kitchen table.
-My noticeable accent identified me as either a) a terrorist or b) a spokesperson for the Foreigners for Obama campaign
-My canvassing partner pinned his Obama button to his crotch.
Well, clearly we lost, but no matter. In three months' time I'm emigrating to our friendly neighbour up North, and in the meantime I'll pay attention to Czech politics, which are the kind of train wreck you can't help staring at. And anyway, who needs an excuse to go wander around in the sun for five hours?
