Loudoun County. The Parent-Child Effect.

While I've lived all over the country, I claim Loudoun County, Virginia. Ashburn to be exact.

It's quite beautiful. Colonial Suburbs. Horse Country. Rolling Hills.

I miss it quite often, but realize that a lot has changed in the past eight years since leaving.

Today, Election Day, Loudoun County is in the news.

Swing State, but not just. Swing county. It baffles me.

During high school, my AP government teacher, Mike Benson, mentioned time and time again that college makes you more liberal. Age and income make you more conservative. I didn't believe him, until today.

I guess I'm guilty of having a false-consesus bias; today I've had a rude awakening. 

To this point in my life (as an independent adult), I've considered myself part of the white, middle-class, christian demographic. I've assumed that within my own demographic circles, the American Dream, traditional social values, and conservative fiscal policies play an important role in one's political views.

Yet today I have seen evidence of "progressiveism". Loudoun County? A swing county?

Loudoun County has been one of the wealthiest counties in the country (Upper-middle class). It has also been one of the most conservative (highly-devout Christians in mass) in Virginia. That's what is so baffeling .

A socially conservative, overwhelmingly Republican-leaning county, voted Obama four years ago?

And might again today?

Despite the growth over the past years I am dumbfounded.

And admittingly give a touché to Mr. Benson.

While parents may believe in traditoinal social values, their kids might not.
While parents may compile the upper-middle class, their kids might not.
While parents may view conservative fiscal policies as important, their kids may not.

Touché Mr. Benson. Touché.

Here's to hopping the majority of the socially concervative, overwhelmingly Republican-leaning county (in which I would have died to vote in today) chooses the Right. 

(Pun intdended.)  

Democracy. (It's better when you participate.)

This morning, I woke up with a hop in my step. 

Election Day!

A day where I get to cast my vote regardless of my gender, religion, or race. 

By the time we got out the door (Ryan, wasn't so thrilled), 7:30 was upon us, as was a 30-minute wait. 

It was chilly, but it was fun seeing people we knew from our Precinct. 

The other fun aspect was seeing Adi run around Vineyard. 

The Line

The Little Voter

I Voted! 

After getting to work this morning, I was talking to my colleague about the frustration that I've felt about my vote not counting. Republicans in Utah will win. (Matheson might.) But during this election cycle I've felt a little apathetic because despite my strong belief in Mitt Romney, I realize that no matter how I feel, I don't really have a say. 

Her response was so thoughtful; she said that in their morning prayers, she and her husband had prayed that whatever the outcome, that the country could unite and that we could make the best of the situation. 

Definitely the right attitude. 

While I have high hopes (and prayers!) for the Romney/Ryan team today, I will support the man who leads our country for the next four years. 

Democracy. It's better when you participate. 

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As an aside, and for future generations to appreciate the humor of the times. My favorite election joke from Facebook as of the night before the election:

"I predict Obama will take an early lead tomorrow, until all the Republicans get off work."

I'm not saying I totally agree. I'm simply saying it was funny. (:

Voter Apathy

They say (and by "they" I mean Google) that voting either makes you feel old or like a rockstar. I'm not sure why the polarized spectrum. Maybe it's a reflection of the current political climate?

Today as I voted, I did not feel like either. 

To tell the truth, I care about this race probably more than any other previous race in which I have voted. However, I don't feel that anyone running is going to make a difference and I'm tired of feeling like no matter how I vote, it will not matter in the one-party state in which I live. The Republican candidate will win and incumbents go unchallenged too often. 

This is particularly true in Utah County. Jason Chaffetz puts up a few signs and his challengers do not even have a website. 

He will win by margins as large as Castro's. 

So this is voter apathy. 

Maybe voting did make me feel old today.