The Practice Corner: The 2012 Election and the Imaginary End of America

by Daniel DeWoskin
Trial Attorney
www.atlantatrial.com

I’m not sure that even if I clawed into the very depths of my imagination I could bring any insight into this 2012 election that has not already been beaten into the ground by political insiders, outsiders, columnists, pundits, both amateur and professional, your neighbors, your family, and the random idiot who talks too loudly as you try to order a sandwich at a café. What I can say, and I feel is worth repeating, is that I cannot wait for the election to be over.

It appears that the election may not be over until long after the voting is done. There may be counts, recounts, and more recounts. There may be fighting and even potential litigation at the highest levels of government. The fatigue that I feel, and voters like me feel, will pale in comparison to what may come in December, January, and beyond. However, I can say that living in Georgia means that I am not being suffocated by robo-calls and endless television ads.

If we scramble to try to find the upside in all of the nonsense that we endure listening to everyone’s unsolicited opinions on social media, the nightly news, and everywhere else for that matter, we can feel some pride that people, a lot of people, are taking an interest in what is happening in this country politically. Of course, many of the people who are taking an interest are doing so with a very skewed and flawed notion that if this election doesn’t go their way that it may be the last election ever. You have heard many of these people speak of this election as though the fate of all democracy rests upon the American voter making the “right” choice.

As you read this, if you are thinking to yourself that this election could signal the end of the American way of life, you should take a deep breath. We survived the Bush v. Gore ordeal as a nation and, regardless of who wins the election, we will survive another four years. Who knows, we may even make it beyond that. The point is that Armageddon is not upon us all as we go to the voting booth. The rhetoric around us all is fantastic for ratings. It gets many of us to kneel down and squint at newspaper machines next to a Starbucks pavilion in an airport as we order, but the rhetoric is just that.

I do not mean to suggest that the policies of whatever administration controls will not have lasting and, for many, permanent repercussions, but that we are not voting on whether or not to eliminate the Constitution, democracy itself, or the rule of law. For so many in our communities who have endured lengthy unemployment, serious illness, or some other calamity in recent years, it may feel like they have already seen their American dream crumble. As Americans, when we go to vote, it is important that we keep in mind that despite adversity, we collectively believe it can be restored.

It is troubling to hear those whose opinions are so polarized that they insist that anyone not voting as they are is filled with contempt for their country. It is also nothing new. During any election cycle going back to earliest years of this country, there has been impassioned debate over foreign and domestic policy, taxation, and the role of government in our lives. Our nation and the principles of freedom and democracy are much stronger than the 2012 presidential election.

Despite the urge to scream as the election approaches and we are barraged with divisive diatribes from every direction, let us take pride in the fact that we are hearing the opinions of people who in the past may have just felt so isolated from the process that they never said anything and maybe even failed to exercise their right to vote. Don’t get me wrong, I am as tired of hearing everyone’s opinion as the next guy, but I am hoping that one thing I can look forward to seeing is record voter turnout. I think it is a long shot, given the fact that boring fellow patrons in a restaurant is far less time-consuming that actually going to vote.

I am looking forward to some closure to this election cycle. I fear that the moment the decision is in and the final tally is accepted as valid, to whatever extent that will be, the 2016 election cycle will begin and we will hear more about our nation’s impending doom. I suppose we can blame all those who vote the wrong way or the media. Or maybe we can just read a novel or go have a picnic with our families.