And so it is done. But then again it is not over until the fat lady sings.
The first automated elections in my country was relatively successful. Relative because it still depends upon how one sees it. A success with the new system is always marred by subtle and obvious flaws. As expected, of course, as it is still a new system. Maybe the next time things will go smoothly.
Woke up around 5am. Took a quick shower, a cup of coffee, toast with hotdogs, and one stick of cigarette. Then I was off to vote with my cousins. It always seems to me that the whole shebang is a duty that we all have to fulfill as if we are spec ops. The house is systematic this morning: scheduled shifts, synchronized cooking, and my favorite - who gets to ride with who to the polling precincts.
The elementary school we were to vote is not too shabby. In fact, it brings a sense of comfort and homely feel to the chore... until we get to the lines. Long lines. Good thing we came early so we finished early. My mom felt like she won an award when the infamous machine ate her ballot and did not spit it back. And the rest of the day was spent speculating, sharing jokes, and mostly staying vigilant. I finished half my pack of smokes when my dad decided to turn on the telly and tuned in to a channel that uses "holograms" to bring us up-to-date, hardcore, no bias, no bullshit coverage. But we soon tuned in to another station that corrected the other station that the technology was not holograms and coined it as... I couldn't put my finger on the term but it was better. I just don't like overly celebritized and hyped news correspondence... what are you at? Ratings? Yeeahhh... right, right.
Waiting for the results was not that much of a suspence story. It just came as a surprise who got ranked highest. Forget the statistics. Familiarity and mental conditioning was the order of the day. A lot have been messaging me and posting on social networking sites about this. But what's done is done. It makes others sick to their stomachs, saying that the level of intelligence just shot into a downward spiral; among other profanity coupled with other such metaphors. But me? It just made me laugh. Not that I don't care, I was just plain amused.
Same thing went on at the locals. We had a relative running for mayor. But hey, shit happens, as one of my fraternity former heads posted. Nevertheless, win or lose, service does not stop there. I can just imagine the crap the other guy will give us. The marketplace will suffer the most. As I see it, in a town like mine, the public market where life revolves in complete ecocentricity, must be given priority. Our town does not need hypermarkets... sure it helps, but the ugly thing just made the present traffic problem a whole new thing to be experienced. Now I'm just bashing...
Now I am here, typing away, passively listening to the telly. I'll stay up late as I can and follow the news like I did last time elections were held. Just half an hour ago a cousin told me that his dad was asking him rather in a mood I can just describe as animosity: "Why did you vote for ---? You should have voted for ---!"
"I'm the one voting, dad. Not you." was his reply. I applauded; I just couldn't resist.
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