It's election day and hella busy. Sunday night and Monday weren't my favorite, with my ship production project coming down to the wire and my team essentially draping themselves over me until the end. The presentation went acceptably well, but no letters of commendation will be distributed or anything. On the plus side, there was pizza from the professor, so I didn't have to pause in the midst of the two homeworks that needed to get cranked out last night to make dinner. Today has seen a continuation of the workload, although the end is well within sight: when I sit down for IOE 441 at 1500, the roughest week so far will be over. Amen.
Then there's the election. I got up extra-early to go vote in anticipation of the crunch that arrived today, so hooray democracy. Then I flipped open the Michigan Daily and found the world's most assinine editorial: Bush is just like the Wolverines. I'm paraphrasing, but basically the letter said that just like when U-M was down by 17 points and Lloyd Carr led them back, GWB will bring our team to victory because he'll "stay the course." That has to be my least favorite phrase of all time - stay the course - and poor Alex Grimes, LS&A freshman, has been hooked by Students for Bush.
As an ad hoc member of the news media, I feel it is important to give equal time to both parties, so my thoughts on Kerry this morning are that his supporters are right there on the ethical fringe...my polling place was swarmed with signs and a group of supporters outside had pamphlets and free snacks. I partook, don't get me wrong, but I think that I want a fair election even more than I want the result I want. Tricky business, this.
We were talking (we being the students of #137) this morning about the electoral college system and the merits of counting the popular vote instead. My thoughts after this morning are that this country is not ready for that - we're still using markered lines on printed ballot cards held in special secrecy sleeves, and that's not quite the level of service I'd trust for a decision of this magnitude. This was reinforced by the average age of polling place workers (72) and the generational gap that will hold back computer voting. I think plenty of seniors would welcome the change along with most other segments of the population, but it only takes one dissenter to carry the day.
Finally, a picture, harkening back to last week and my boat trip to Wisconsin.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004