Shortening Fuses

I had so much to write this past week, but I deferred since it was mostly election related and I was smoking hot about that.  Nothing I voted for was passed, and so many of the candidates elected I just don't believe said anything honestly, but, I suspected, just to be elected.

The biggest gripe I had, however, was the lack of absentee ballot for The Girl.  I had submitted her paperwork applying for that easily 6 weeks ago and had the submission confirmed by the lieutenant governor's office at least a month before the election.  I was told by them that the county would send the ballot to our address.  I assumed--and that is were I made the blunder, as this is all election related, and therefore assumptions are immediately WRONG-- that I'd get the mail in ballot in time to send it to her and she could send it directly in from Illinois.  Nope.  We got nothing.

Finally a week before the election, knowing now the hope to send it to her and have her mail it in was passed, I had hoped to fill it out and drop it for her in time.  I called the county and was told that the final batch of ballots had already been mailed and that it should be there any time.  I gave the county office the benefit of the doubt, again, this was wishful thinking on my part.

Nothing on Saturday before election day.  Nothing Monday before elections day--and the ballot had to be postmarked by midnight that night. When I called Monday again to report that nothing had shown up, their answer was that my daughter could just show up at the polls and would not be turned away even with an absentee ballot request.  Isn't that the reason we asked for an absentee ballot?!? Because she COULDN'T just show up to vote?!?!

I was HIGHLY disappointed in our system.  Now there was no recourse and in our city bond vote, it failed with only about 700 votes separation.  If NO one else in town go their requested absentee ballots either, we might have had the win for the bond.  I felt very disenfranchised for her.

I know this is the greatest country in the world, but this past week I was questioning our society's roll in that country and her government.  I'm still not calmed down by the events that elapsed.  Give me another week or so on that.