Election Day from the perspective of someone who is unable to vote

Voting is an exciting and powerful experience. I have never missed a chance to vote in Ireland for 17 years. I moved to the US earlier in the year, hoping to stay there for the foreseeable future. I am now in neutral territory politically as the November midterm elections approach. I cannot vote until I become a US citizen.

It is troubling that I am unable speak out in a country whose policy I have been following all my life. It was inevitable that it would be this way before I arrived, but I find it more frustrating to feel helpless than I expected.

As news alerts bombard my phone and computer, I feel like it is the perfect excuse to ignore politics. However, the same sense I have of social responsibility that made me vote in Ireland every year continues to cloud mine mind. So I’m eager for others to join me.

But how do you do it?

The view from outside

Growing up in Ireland during the 1990s gave me an unbiased view of American politics. I weighed it heavily in favor the Democrats. Despite all the media attention on the former president Bill Clinton’s betrayalsAmerica, led at the time by Democrats, played a crucial role in making it happen The end of Northern Ireland’s problems. This helped me to reaffirm my pre-teenage romantic notions about America.

My perception of American politics changed under the Republican government, headed by President George W. Bush. This was probably due to my being a cynical teenager. The US military used Irish airports as a stopover in their journey to Iraq. This made neutral Ireland. looks like a partnerIn the controversial war against terror that followed 9/11.

As a journalist, it was only when I began to think about American politics that I realized the importance of journalism in holding elected officials accountable. I wanted to be as balanced as possible as the 2012 presidential election was near. During this time of great curiosity, I read. Irish journalist Terry Brown’s 2011 column. It cited an article by Paul Krugman, an economist, in the New York Times. He eschewed the “cultof equilibrium” and the media’s insistence that both sides are equally wrong on every issue, regardless the facts.

I felt at the time that any attempt to have a balanced perspective was foolish. (The gallery didn’t respond to my last request for comment about this column.

I don’t recall much about the politics of this election, but mimefication Clint Eastwood was the next to follow. empty chairMitt Romney Folders full of womenJoe Biden A bunch of Malarkey– It is etched in my mind.

All of this seems strange in comparison to Drama 2016Then there’s the shock of the year 2020. I have been exhausted by American politics for six years. It’s very possible to understand it if you don’t get lost in the play.

Reality and fiction: The game and reality

Many people are obsessed with this topic. GamePolitics – endless attitudes, exaggerated scandals. This is likely due to decades of watching well-groomed men in suits mock the other side on outrageous partisan cable television networks. They aren’t just promoting their own brand or promoting the latest book.

This is likely to be worse due to the proliferation of social media influencers, who feel the need to rely upon every topic, including politics, pop culture, and sports. – To keep their name trendy and their audience on them. This all feels like a horrible form of narcissism. It draws us further and farther away from reality, and makes us feel more angry.

Strolling the streets of New York City (my new home) for the past few months, surrounded by a sea of ​​humanity in a place of extreme affluence and poverty, has been a powerful dose of reality. It’s easy not to see the suffering of those who are less fortunate.

I recently wondered why I didn’t go to the homeless. Their situation is a nightmare. Looking at them for more time than a minute seems like they are in a difficult situation with many possible causes. There is no way to fix it. It makes me feel helpless. This is especially true because I cannot vote for decent, fair candidates who make reasonable improvements.

Political openness

So what can I and other people in my situation do to remain politically aware and engaged even if we are “strangers” who cannot vote? We live in the United States and care about its direction.

As I adjust to American life, the best way to keep in touch is to have thoughtful conversations with my partner, friends and acquaintances. We should be able to discuss practical issues and find solutions, rather than just enjoying them. Twitter’s latest common bullshit: Politicians are ridiculed for little slips of tongues or ongoing controversy that will fade in one week.

Engage in intensely contested topics like miscarriageThen there’s the gun controlIt can lead to discussions about partisan loyalties and generalizations regarding the divisions they may represent. My friends and me can listen respectfully to each other and then work together to assess the positions and personalities local politicians. I might be able to influence which electors are allowed to vote. Understanding the voting options of these voters will gradually shape my understanding of the political nuances.

Beyond the conversation, there are other ways that I can make an immediate impact as a non-voter on issues that matter to my heart, such as homelessness. Before I moved here, I gave piles upon piles of books and clothes to local charities. This is how I know how eager these organizations can be to help, how easy it can be to donate, and the little rush that such giving gives me.

Less inspiring work will come through the mountains of free political literature that I’ve only previously scanned — having the patience to sit back and read seems like a superpower at times — hoping to anchor myself in the realities of politics instead. From the play. I want to see all political issues affecting my country through the eyes of empathy and reliable sources.

It’s a chance to let go my old assumptions and engage with politics in a more rational way by being new to the United States. Maybe I’ll be able to vote again, just maybe.

Citizen later, if you will.