Purple Fingers

Remember these?

Images of purple Iraqi fingers.

Celebrating the democracy we brought to Iraq at the price of thousands of American lives, more than a hundred thousand documented Iraqi civilian deaths, millions of Iraqi refugees, nearly a trillion American dollars, waste, fraud and abuse of the American taxpayer, and the unprecedented privatization of war. History will judge the wisdom of this grand, lethal experiment. I already have. Maybe you have, too.

Closer to home, the democratic election process is something we enjoy. Often.

In fact, we can't have enough of it. At least here in Hoboken, where sample ballots arrive in the mail with the frequency of utility bills. (OK, I'm exaggerating). But point taken that Hoboken has frequent elections. Did you know we have another one tomorrow?

It's true.

Perhaps a side effect of so many elections is that some folks tune out, or pick and choose which ones they feel are important. I'll tell you why tomorrow's is important.

First off, you are voting for your local Committee persons- one man and one woman. This person is going to help you with any local neighborhood issue that's gone unnoticed by your Ward Councilperson. Your local Committee persons will also represent your interests in your district and ward. Say for example, you can't stand your noisy neighbor and want to send him to the moon... OK, well they can't help you with that. But for a real-life example, how do you think my street got our decrepit signs replaced? About 5 years ago.

So, VOTE for G-d's sake.

Do you know what ward and what district within your ward you live in?

Here's a super-crappy map for your use- the only one I could find with districts labeled:


Did that help? It doesn't matter. Just go to your usual polling place- they're open from 6 am - 8 pm and cast your vote.

For your convenience, Hoboken Journal has published a list of the Column B candidates. Those are the Democrats. I'm a Democrat and am endorsing the Column B folks. Which is also self-serving, since I am one of the Column B folks. Wasn't that transparent of me to tell you?

In addition to local Committee persons, you will also be voting for our U.S. House representative in Congress. And Sheriff! Well, I don't know the Column B candidate for Sheriff personally, but if he's anything like this guy, he's got my vote:


They don't make 'em like Sheriff Andy anymore.

Alright, I will remind you to vote again tomorrow.

But please, consider what we've given in exchange for the democratic election process in a place you'll never visit. Please, vote in the place where you live.