By: Cynthia Shaffer
Reel Urban News Op-Ed
August 1995: Never have I been around people who try so hard to be color blind, culturally sensitive, gender neutral, and socially inclusive. They desire to be thought of as altruistic and accepting; kind and compassionate; a voice for the downtrodden and the discriminated; a protector of civil rights, nay human rights, and a defender of freedom! What’s not to like about these open-minded and enlightened individuals? I would soon find out. They are California Democrats and with “DEM” stamped on my voter registration card, I had found a political home with them. This was my first impression of California- not the weather, not the beauty, nor the wine.
June 2003: Over the years I’m introduced to California politics and experience a political identity crisis. By this time I grow weary of the protesting against our military, I question our higher taxes with no corresponding increase in the quality of government services and I learn about late-term abortion. These were my final clues that I didn’t fit in the Democratic Party. As Sting serenades, I’m sending out an SOS. While posing these questions I am parrying the political jugular attacks from the very same people who tout this California as a place of unabashed tolerance. Soberly reflecting, even interning on the Hill did not prepare me for the viscera superseding logic and substance.
Ironically, moving to California, a solid blue state, does not grow my Democrat roots. Rather, it is the beginning of my reluctant transformation from Democrat to hard-line-fringe-extreme-White-Christian-male-religious-radical-ultra-far-right-wing-racist Republican. I want to run far, far away from a party with so many pejoratives preceding its proper name, but I cannot deny the results of my personal political inventory. My voter registration now shows “REP”.
October 2016: By this time my husband and I have a 9 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. For the school my children are zoned only 27% of second-graders can read at grade level. So why does the school board vote down a charter school that has 90% of second-graders reading at grade level? It wasn’t for a lack of parents pleading. Yes, for various local issues I address the school board and city council numerous times. It doesn’t matter. The homicide rate is astronomically off the charts. I resign from the Police Community Advisory Committee. Yes, I am heavily involved with the local police and community leaders. I write letters to the editor. I am involved in three political campaigns (one Republican, one Democrat, and one non-partisan). They all lost. What more could a momma do to help make things better for her children? My family flees California to Texas (https://www.reelurbannews.com/cynthia-shaffer-youve-moved/).
Our nation is going through a political identity crisis of sorts. Just as I had a political transformation many people are taking stock of their own political inventory. Whether it be an official party switch, an all out boycott of the parties, or a vicissitude in voting patterns, there is an intense and simmering discontent among the voting citizens. To say we distrust our elected officials is being generous.
September 2020: The Presidential election is just a couple of months away and true to human nature, instead of being introspective, we voters are disdainful and look to elected officials to fix everything and everyone (https://www.reelurbannews.com/election-2016-im-disturbed/). Yet, we pontificate how they break promises, say anything to get elected, are self-serving, hypocritical, and yes, even stupid. On one hand we want someone who is an ‘average Joe’, able to relate, a straight shooter (insert story of blue collar parent here). On the other hand we want them polished, cultured, and educated (Ivy League, even better). Add a dash of charisma, a pinch of good looks, and shake vigorously. Voila! A perfect candidate. Oops, forgot to stir in platform positions and plan of action…that’s ok, those are optional ingredients, along with credibility, integrity, and candor.
What of the voter? If apathy hasn’t claimed you, then ignorance is happy to oblige, and heading up the rear is the ever useless Switzerland stance- internally, you know where you stand, but externally, you just can’t seem to find your spine. If you can get past those excuses then the final test to pass is knowing why you believe what you believe. There is no perfect candidate, but the perfect voter translates his belief to a vote which reflects his credibility, integrity, and candor. Now…if I can just get the California Registrar to take me off their voter rolls!
