As the title may revealed... Oy the Petitions! For those who don't know, and up until two weeks ago that included me, any political candidate (from city council to state senator) needs to have a certain number of signatures per district. A hopeful city councilman only needs 10 signatures, we need 1,000 and any state-wide office needs 2,000. The number seems minuscule, especially compared to the number of registered voters in the district, but the State only allows a three week window and for the past two weeks the North East has been inundated with freezing winds and massive snow fall, it makes things a little difficult! Not a particularly volunteer friendly weather...
But that brings me to the real point of this 'article'. This IS the Democratic Process, a process all Americans are dutifully bound to participate in; preferably without a snarky attitude. This week dad and I went to canvass the neighborhood, only going to houses with known registered democrats. And the reaction was startling. I CAN NOT believe how rude people can be to a stranger, let alone someone who lives down the street! At points I wanted to cry. Some people would shoo me away through their windows, others pretending I wasn't even standing there. It took longer for some of them to yell at me and explain the annoyance of my existence than to sign the petition. We are a representative democracy, meaning we should have the most interaction with our local representatives and yet who can name their state senators (Mike Gerber)... or heck even their congressman. We all know who Barack Obama is or even Hugo Chavez...
I'm not trying to frustrate people, but why must everyone be so rude?! Why put that kind of energy into the world? If you don't have time just that moment, calmly say so and close your door, no need for an attitude!
