After nearly two years of continuous campaigns, the election is finally over. I'm relieved. The last couple of weeks were just ridiculous. Very little new ideas came out of the campaign trail, and I, for one, was sick of hearing the same old same old. I'm also relieved that nobody will be mobbing me asking if I'm registered to vote, if I know where to vote, or if I'm voting at all. The entire thing was getting out of hand.
Yes, I did vote. I voted third party, much to the dismay of just about everyone. I know many people would say that I wasted my vote, but I felt that my vote should go to the candidate who I felt most represented my beliefs, not just the lesser of the two evils that make up the majour parties.
Also, voting third party left me free to criticize whoever would win without someone trying to paint me as a hypocrite by saying, "Well, you voted for him," because I didn't. Further, since I took the time to cast a ballot, I am also free to bitch, because I "participated in democracy."
I want to believe that Obama will live up to his message of hope. I sincerely want him to make good on his promise of healing the wounds of the last eight years. But, I also know how politicians tend to deviate from campaign promises once elected.
The next four years have already been written. Fixing our economy and deciding which direction to go in our "War on Terror" are going to be the main focus. These are not easy issues to deal with. Obama's ideas sound great on the campaign trail, but who knows what implementing them will actually do.
At the very least, the next four years will indeed bring change to America. I just hope it's positive.
