The Wake

I realized something in my poly. sci. class today. I realized how close we were to a nuclear holocaust twice. In Nov. 1983, the Soviets were so trigger happy that after NATO performed a training exercise that simulated a nuclear attack called “Able Archer“, the reds believed the US was preparing to attack the USSR for reals, and the tension mirrored that of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

We also learned about “Mutual Assured Destruction,” where if either the US or the Soviets attacked one another, each had enough of a stockpile of nukes to retaliate and blow each other to smithereens. That might sound insane, but you know what? After attending the Republican Caucus on Tuesday, I wish this crazy scenario would have come to fruition.

The insanity of Super Tuesday made me want to become a commie. A cameraman and I went to cover the event for the Web site, and my God was it not worth it. The sites and sounds of all the motions passed and I’s and neigh’s reminded me of a high school student council meeting. The votes weren’t even counted correctly by the organizers! Isn’t that, you know, the biggest fear voters have?? That their vote won’t count?!?!?

Granted, the organizers finally got the tally correct, and organizers were only expecting 10-20 people, but shouldn’t they have realized that more people would show up for a PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS, compared to a state legislature caucus??

Anywho, this participation in the electoral process made me realize why communism might not be so bad. All this chaos of people standing in line for 30-45 mins, casting votes that don’t really matter until they vote for delegates, and people not knowing anything about any of the candidates made me want to write in Karl Marx’s name.

One kid I spoke to was voting for Ron Paul because he didn’t want his tax dollars to be used to “stop (him) from smoking (his) weed!” Another kid named Josh I talked to, wearing a bright yellow jacket and looking a little disoriented gave me this gem of a quote:

“He likes small government, and, and uh I don’t remember. I went to his rally drunk last night and the things he said, I don’t remember, but I was happy at the time.”

Wow, I just thought of Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin rolling over in their graves! Is this really what they wanted by giving the people the power in government? College kids to show up to caucuses and make jokes and listen to candidates while they’re shitfaced? Granted, I love a little booze myself, but don’t you usually go bowling or to a movie or drive a car wasted or something, not go to a rally by a viable presidential candidate??

However, as I dug a little deeper I found many educated voters who had passion about the issues of the day. One was elected as a delegate. Her name was Noelle, a senior geography major who supported Ron Paul, and actually looked into his platforms. Noelle even recorded debates where Ron Paul was asked less than half of the questions than other candidates. That is a little crazy, but hey, at least she’s wasn’t hammered at the time.

And although she sounded like Ron Paul’s press secretary, she gave me a little hope for the democratic process:

“If people actually listened to the man speak, and listened him state what he believes in, I think his numbers would be a lotbetter than what they are. But as he says, the important thing is that his message is getting out there.”

But it’s clear that many are on the Ron Paul bandwagon because they think he is crazy and college kids love crazy. So truly, is Paul’s message getting out? Are people buying into his Constitutionalist ideals? Or are they just voting for a novel act that will fade by November? And am I really considering communism as a good form of government?

This caucusing really made me think if all this is worth it. To put some white dude (or woman, or black man) in the White House for four years and have people get into ridiculous arguments about who’s values are right and who’s are wrong. Maybe we’d be better off with one crazy mofo controlling us all.

P.S. watch for The Wake’s video coverage of the Republican caucus coming very very very soon/when we’re not insanely busy and have time to edit!

Tags: caucus, communists, republicans, Ron Paul