Off to Vote. I have decided to vote after all. New Jersey is too close to call, and is a big state, electorally speaking, despite its small physical size. We are 10th in population, 46th in area of the 50 states. So, tho I am very angry that the Democrats have not addressed the most important issue in this election, in which the differences between Democrats and Republicans are starkest — debt and bankruptcy "reform" — I have to vote for Kerry/Edwards anyway.
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I have now received 5 tape-recorded phone calls urging me to vote Democratic. The one today was from black actress Alfre Woodard, urging a high turnout from "our community". You see, I live in a predominantly black (but middle-class) area of Newark, so I often get mailings and such intended for blacks. Not even her message mentioned debt!
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In actuality, the mid-portion of my block is perfectly integrated. The alternation from my house outward is white, black, white, black, black, white, black, Puerto Rican, black, white! Perfect. Another oddity about my block is there are no Halloween festivities. I've now been here four Halloweens and have never seen so much as one kid in a costume on my block. Isn't that weird?
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In any case, I hope my neighbors make me wait at the polling place, Sacred Heart School. On prior elections, it's been in-and-out in a hurry. I'm hoping for a line this time. So I'd better get myself out of here or I'll be late for work!
- posted by L. Craig Schoonmaker @ 1:05 PM