doctor with a hint of depression and walk away with a few kind words and a bottle of Prozac, it becomes difficult to take seriously any ‘war on drugs.’
Democracy is an amazing concept, especially to canines. Though some dogs hold lofty hopes for a future governed by one dog one vote, most dogs prefer rule by force.
Basically, they vote with their teeth. While this may have a certain fascist efficiency, it does tend to short circuit a great deal of meaningful discussion. Often the opinions that prevail are held by the strongest dogs, rather than the ones with the strongest logic. In my own case, I am fortunate to be associated with a group of animal intellectuals who do not hold this tradition. If I were friends with any other group of creatures, my opinions might be subjugated by the alpha dogs around me. I am lucky to be free to express my opinions without fear of reprisal.
Of course, humans in this country take for granted their ability to speak freely. They do not have pit bulls looking over their shoulders or listening to their conversations. They also take for granted their right to vote. This seems obvious since so few people take advantage of that right. Californians in particular have unique opportunities to express their opinions using the initiative process. In theory at least, it’s as close as this country comes to true democracy.
I often hear humans complain about how corrupt their political system has become. Of course, this will continue to be the case until there is an informed electorate that actually votes. They talk about how much influence special interest lobbyists have upon their elected representatives. They complain about all the money given to politicians about the golf junkets where lobbyists spend millions to play a silly game with a group of congressmen. They’re not playing golf because they love the game, but rather because it gives them an opportunity to influence the people who make our laws.
Humans often speak wistfully of their desire to better control how the laws are made. They would like to spend some quality time with their representatives and explain how they really feel about the issues that concern them. Unfortunately, in a representative democracy where one congressman serves hundreds of thousands of people, this sort of informal chat is just not possible. Yet even when given an opportunity to have direct control over passing a law, many humans choose to opt out of the process.
They do this in two ways. The first and most obvious way is they choose not to vote. They make excuses: It’s too much trouble; I don’t have the time. It doesn’t change anything. Of course, all these arguments fall flat. Voting is no trouble at all and requires only a few minutes once or twice a year. Besides, what would you be doing otherwise, watching “General Hospital”? Dog knows you’d probably never figure out what was going on if you missed part of an episode.
As far as changing anything, it depends on what you are trying to change. If you want everything to change immediately, then no, voting won’t do that. It’s not designed to do that. However, if you prefer slow, methodical, logical change, then voting is the best method. It’s like putting gas in your car. If you need a full tank, but only have $5, you put $5 in. You don’t wait until you get paid and risk running out. Voting is the same. You fill up as much as you can, when you can. If you don’t fill up, you have no one to blame but yourself.
The other way humans choose to opt out of the political process is more insidious. They vote, but they vote out of ignorance. They vote for an initiative because they like the title. Or even worse, they vote for or against a proposal because they’ve been influenced by a 30-second commercial repeated hundreds of times. Keep in mind that these commercials are paid for by the same lobbyists who are paying for your congressman’s golf junkets. It’s all the same to them. They can spend millions contributing to Congressman Rottweiler’s re-election, or they can spend millions buying commercial time to influence people too lazy to read. The result is identical. Perhaps the system is a little corrupt, but it is because humans allow it to be.
Of course, from time to time, an initiative breaks through based on its merits, and not from hype or high-dollar rhetoric. In this case, Medical Marijuana passed based largely upon human common sense and compassion, both traits which dogs unfortunately lack. Many humans have witnessed a friend or family member with a terminal disease and have wished for something, anything, to help ease their suffering. They voted accordingly. But the most amazing thing about this proposition is that anyone opposed it. In an age when millions go to the doctor with a hint of depression and walk away with a few kind words and a bottle of Prozac, it becomes difficult to take seriously any “war on drugs.”
The attorney general (who wants to be governor) opposed this measure because he believes it will encourage juvenile drug use. I’m sure this makes sense to him. Since he has done such a woefully inadequate job of denying any drugs to minors, it only stands to reason that we should all deny a potentially therapeutic drug to the sick and dying. It makes perfect sense. But the people of California saw clearly that his rhetoric was just like something I make every time I squat. I’m sure that the many beneficiaries of this new law are grateful.
I know I usually don’t get on the soapbox like this, but sometimes when you get a flea, you gotta scratch. I would like to encourage all eligible humans to register to vote, learn about the candidates and initiatives, and vote! Get an absentee ballot, and you can vote on the toilet. You can vote while you’re making Top Ramen. You can vote during your English midterm. The opportunities are limitless!
Coming up, Opinion Jake: Superpooch handles a panic in Dog Park!
