Apathy does not equal the belief that my vote doesn't count.

I'm warming up even more to the idea that the act of voting is the most important thing. The content of my vote is a little jag (up or down) in a much larger trend upward (good is up metaphor-cog-sci) towards higher overall human development.

I watched a few clips from the Democracy in America episode of  Northern Exposure yesterday. One of the races was for the mayor of Cicely, Alaska, between incumbent Holling Vincoeur, a regular and beloved character, and Edna Hancock who we only see in a few episodes.

In the closing scene of the show it is revealed that Edna beats Holling by eight votes. On air (with Ed the courier of the results) Chris-In-the-Morning says: Ed, we just witnessed a peaceful transition in government. Do you realize how miraculous that is?...Today, tiny Cicely, Alaska, stood up and put another W in the win category for democracy.

YouTube Clip: The Vote (3:55)

That's what matters. That we engage the process no matter how we vote. What if more young (apparently very forgetful) Democrats had made it to the polls? Maybe they did and this is still what the collective WE wants.

This morning I couldn't help thinking how I ultimately contribute to the whole partisan political phenomenon by waging my own personal battles against my Self.