Podsafe Music by Roadside Zoo “Chance It”

Bach to the Beach from Brian Rendel on Vimeo.

On Lake Superior in July from Brian Rendel on Vimeo.

Perhaps experiencing these existential dilemmas at a young age helped me develop tolerance for multiple outcomes. Struggles viewed in this way are not catastrophes, bad luck, fate, or events of anguish. They are dilemmas of choice. And how we struggle with these dilemmas reveals who we are deep inside. So as I learned to make choices in little dilemmas instead of launching into hysterics or shriveling into self-pity. In essence I developed a belief about my world that everything works out and helps fuel my attitude as I move along.

Did you notice the “attitude” word? May I offer a definition? Attitude is not a smile or a snarl. Attitude is how we automatically respond to situations based upon millions of tiny little realities we have over time constructed for ourselves. How someone wrestles with little dilemmas tells us more about who and what they are than any psychological test or “facts” you might think you “know” about them. Such facts tend to be items that fit into our own constructs of reality and are generally a poor way to size up a person.

Dilemma triggers attitude. Core beliefs fuel attitude. Despite our desire to think we’re in control of all this we usually just go along for the ride.

Political seasons are a smorgasboard of human attitude. I have a taste for political seasons. As I watch the candidates I look at their style of speech, body language, defense mechanisms and, of course, how they struggle. Yes, I am interested in their policy positions, but I have yet to find a candidate whose policy positions are exactly mine. So instead I focus on their attitude. Is their attitude consistent with their stated positions? If so, is their attitude toward the people and constitution of this country one of respect?

Now I face a dilemma. This January 15th I will be served a plate of Brussels sprouts. I get to decide between voting for a candidate with an attitude I distrust whose name is on the ballot or vote “undecided.” Should I vote for “undecided” on the chance enough voters in Michigan will do the same with the hope that, in such a case, the delegates will vote for my choice of candidate whose name is missing?

Is this a catastrophe? Should I become hysterical and rant and rave at the Michigan party leaders for making this silliness happen? Should I fire off angry letters to the Edwards and Obama campaigns? Should I stay home and give up on the political process? Should I weigh the cost/benefit and focus on the benefits of making a choice? Based upon what you know about my own attitude, what do you think I’ll do? What would you do?

Photo credit: MassDistraction

This video is a bit less than smooth because holding the camera steady in cold weather turns out to be more of an effort than I anticipated. Still, it should give you an idea of how fast winter settled in since my video tour of a few weeks ago.

If you are reading this entry from a feed reader and do not see the embedded video, feel free to view it on YouTube.

Michigan leaders decided to move the primary to January 15th.  Typical Michigan voters might think the reason is for increased national influence by becoming an early state to make their choice.  After all, why should our friends in Iowa and New Hampshire always get to choose the likely nominee?  Perhaps another motive is in play. 

When Michigan primary voters go to the polls in January they will choose a Republican or Democratic ballot.  According to the Michigan Democratic voter’s guide, Democrats will have 6 choices:

“Supporters of Joe Biden, John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson are urged to vote “uncommitted” instead of writing in their candidates’ names because write-in votes for those candidates will not be counted.”

Are you kidding me?  So why is “write-in” even an option?  How many primary voters do you think will know that their write-in choice will be ignored? 

Maybe Hillary Clinton enthusiasts in Lansing are behind this.  Maybe not, but I imagine most voters supporting Obama, Edwards, or Biden will NOT know that the only chance their choice can possibly be counted is if they go to the poll, vote “uncommitted, “ and HOPE whomever Michigan sends to the convention will vote on their behalf.

This is silly and seems unconstitutional.  However, I am no lawyer – only a voter with a duty not to make a commitment.