Election Day

"Mom, what's an abortion?" she asked.

How do I always step in it?

We were leaving the polls where I had just voted a straight party ticket and then bought them baked goods from the fundraising table out front.  They asked me why I voted Democrat.  And I said I won't vote Republican.  I know that in local politics the big social issues of LGBT rights, abortion rights, national healthcare, welfare, food stamps, unemployment benefits, the social safety net, maternal leave, fully-funded schools, separation of church and state, all in all the ability of government to be a positive force in people's lives when they need it, etc., rarely come up.  But I believe that, even though local politicians decide on trash pick-up, zoning, pensions, etc and not the other issues, they still opt to side with the Republicans and accept and agree to the national political platform--they choose to be Republicans, when they could be Democrats or even Independents.  And so I won't vote for them because they align themselves with beliefs I can't believe in.  Period.

And so I mentioned abortion.  And had to explain myself.  I'm not sure they really got it and hope they aren't picturing the Massacre of the Innocents.  I focused more on women's rights to control their own bodies.  And the irony of the Republican desire for small government except when it came to women's bodies and whom you could love.

Sure, they're probably a little young for that speech, but it's the one I believe.  What better time to give it than on election day?

Especially because, with one exception, every single Democrat, everyone I voted for, in our town lost.  (But I was glad to see NYC's and VA's results.)