enfranchised.

i just voted in pennsylvania's primary election. i have to say, i have possibly never been more disappointed in our government. there was absolutely no publication of offices, candidates, or issues anywhere. lawn signs barely count. who was running? what offices were up for election? hell, who are the incumbents? if you didn't go to the state website and jump through a labyrinthine series of hoops and search functions, you wouldn't even know who was already representing you in congress, or in the state legislature.

cynically, i know it's completely in the incumbents' interests to not publicize this stuff, because if you don't know anything, either you won't vote, or you'll just vote for the first name on the ballot. i left half the ballot blank because i wasn't even sure what function some of the offices performed. this is both a failing of our educational system and a failing of our government, at all levels. why vote for someone if you don't know what they stand for? which is worse, not voting at all, or voting blind and ignorant? sometimes, i don't know. you're disenfranchised both ways.

a democracy relies on an educated and informed electorate. this is apparently fast becoming the government's worst nightmare.

people around the world are threatened, beaten, and killed for trying to exercise the right that we take for granted. it's a money game, sure, but at least there aren't armed guards standing at our polling stations. i'd encourage anyone who's reading this who is also registered to vote in PA to run out right now and vote, as the polls close at 8pm. assuming you did the same thing and took the time to wade through the horrible, confusing mess of candidates, offices, and issues at stake.