I'm the American pessimist. I'm dreading election day, because I don't feel like it will possibly make anything better. I've lost my hope.
I appologise if I bring you down with me, but I long ago stopped being optimistic. After the 2000 election, I shook my head, sighed and thought "It's only 4 years. What's the worst that can happen" and went on with my life. After the 2002 election, I blamed terrorism and fearmongering for the Democratic losses, but I was not making enough money to pay rent and buy food with the same paycheck, so I didn't worry too much about Washington.
After the 2004 election, I cried but I took solace in humor. I moved to Montana less than a week after the election, listening to "America; the Audiobook" by Jon Stewart for much of the long drive. I didn't want to believe that the system was broken.
Now it's 2006. I have a good job with health insurance and a retirement plan. I'm looking to buy a house in the next year or two. I should be optimistic. I should believe that change is on the horizon. I don't buy it.
I've had my hopes dashed too many elections in a row. I've seen too many pessimistic headlines. I know too much about Diebold, corrupt officials, robocallers, "inaccurate" exit polls, hanging chads, voter intimidation, purging of voters from registration lists, etc.
I've had my optimism slashed as I watch government incompetence (could write a huge list of infractions here), inaction on global warming, bulging national debt and trade deficits, inaction in Darfur, and a million other scary and depressing things.
We lost the optimism of our young people. We lost our belief that the system is working. We lost our belief that the will of the people matters in our "Democracy."
Please, America, give me back my hope.