Election Day: We Could Be Heroes

And the shame, was on the other side
Oh, we can beat them, forever and ever
Then we could be heroes 
just for one day

It's election day here in the States. With it comes this wonderful notion of an opportunity for change, a chance to reset the table, or a national pivot. And now, as we have arrived at the day when we're supposed to count up everyone's vote, we are under assault from interests that want to manipulate our system. From the interests that bankroll self-serving initiatives and twist the legal language in order to hide their real intent to the 'dark money' being spent to influence the outcome, there are forces out there that have no interest beyond their own. From the voter fraud initiatives and voter purgers to the voter intimidation and 'dirty tricks' perpetrators, there are people who have no ethical dilemma with disenfranchising others, be they individuals, races or classes.

Maybe you think your vote doesn't matter, that because we aren't in a battleground state, that we have no influence in the broader issues at stake. And it's true that, however much we may wish to change the partisan gridlock, we can't change the demographics of the places that elect opposition voices.

But, with every election where people try to use twisted and corrupt practices to tilt the table in their favor, who try to buy power and influence, who cast shame upon the principles and values of democracy -- in these moments and these elections, there is an opportunity. We can stand up to this kind of behavior.

When we vote, they lose.
When we are not tricked by their manipulation, they lose.
We can beat them, forever and ever.
We could be heroes just for one day.