Oh Happy Day

(From 11-6-2009, originally likemikeposts.com)

I remember learning in statistics class that a survey or another set of data for analysis where the subjects volunteer to address a topic, like in a broadcast survey, call in, or response board for instance, that the response data is overwhelmingly polarized and therefore inaccurate, at least to show a realistic layout of opinion.

Right-click “Happy Day” from the title and click open link in a new tab to get the soundtrack of this blog post.

In Sociology on Tuesday 11-4-08, Professor Hammett wrote a list of controversial topics on the board and paired us up to construct a debate of both sides no matter our own stance.

Abortion, Legalized Prostitution, Predatory Lending, Same-sex Marriage, Bailing out Banks, Free Lunch in Schools, Universal Health Care, Wire-tapping, National ID, Iraq, Airport Security, Prison Privatization, Guantanamo, Racial Profiling, Tracking in Schools, Voter Suppression, Paid Maternity Leave, Standardized Testing, Decriminalization of Drugs.

I think to myself; are these hatchets or scalpels of division?

Later that evening, in a fit of shared goosebumps, I call my dad who is watching at home with my family: “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer... Yes We Can!” For the first time in my life, the (political) goosebumps come from joy and not fear of international travel.

We experience “¿reverse?” Bradley effect, as it turns out that the opinions we haven´t seen in the call in surveys and response boards are not as afraid as the McCain/Palin mobs and angry conservative Facebook responses would have them.

Some people are skeptical of our new leader and the changes we will see- Ralph Nader (WTF?- couldn´t have picked another way to put that?) I believe that if this makes you afraid, you need seek for answers in what you are looking for from these changes. Billions of $ a month in Iraq and outrageous deficit and half of us seem to be worried about our families being ruined by people we don´t even know and our small businesses that we don´t even have being overtaxed. And the other half seems like we would like to see some of that overspending rain down on our own soil, we´re thinkin books, health care, higher stipend and encouragement for (non-military national service).

Apparently though, Europe loves our President Elect, who seems to remind everyone of Kennedy. It´s nice for a change to see someone there who automatically improves our international credentials (at least with the countries we are to be allied with).

And eat your heart out Tupac- Maybe we´re seeing some change (you can come home from China now:=)

Whether you are moved by a feeling of togetherness we can all share as Americans (dirty hippie), Scared shitless about getting health care that poorer people can also afford (stingy libertarian), Comedy host who won´t have anything else to talk about (oh, man), Wall Street banker (socialist), Joe the Plumber (which tax bracket again?), Joe Biden (no more Amtrack!), Confused Alaskan who doesn´t know what to do with so many pitchforks (and also a wardrobe), just voted on California´s Proposition 8 (which might pass), The question is, What happens now? Obama inherits a mountain of problems from a leader who was passed a peaceful, wealthy, and prosperous record surplus. Can we stand up from the ashes and find a renewed American identity? Will corporations take over our voice? Do we still have to be afraid?

In 2008, I am alive. I just felt like I needed to write some of it down. Is that how History works?