Has everyone who is eligible in the US gone out and done their civic duty? Have you swallowed your distaste and hatred for the political dumbfuckery that goes on before an election, made up your mind to vote for the least objectionable candidate, and read through the seemingly endless referenda at the end of your ballot? Have you punched/punched/toggled/drawn lines to your candidate of choice? Are you doing everything in your power not to despair?

Yeah, me too.

I don't live in any of the hotly contested districts here in Illinois -- although that hasn't stopped me from suffering through the commercials -- so there wasn't much hoopla around my voting location. No Duckworth/Roskum, no Bean/McSweeney. The Governor's race here has been distinguished by asshattery on the part of both major candidates, so there's no real way for me to feel good about my vote. My stab at voting the bums out on the Cook County Board is probably doomed, because the machine still rules. A disturbing number of the state and county races had the incumbents running unopposed. And seriously, what's the point of having a referendum question about withdrawing from Iraq on the ballot? That's pure political theater, and won't change federal policy.

I know enough about myself to know I'm not the sort of person who should be running for office -- I'm not much of a people person, and all the jockeying for power leaves me somewhat ill. When I'm flush, I give money to groups I hope can help on issues I'm passionate about, and I try to be involved in the community through tutoring. But -- and thanks so much, Quaker education! -- I never feel like it's enough.