Caucuses (2/5/08)

The morning and afternoon before caucuses, friends and family repeatedly informed me that this year, caucuses were going to be crowded. Though I knew that this voting season was a remarkable season for the Democrats, I felt that even the popularity of the battle between Hillary Clinton and Brock Obama alone could not explain why people were foreshadowing a high voter turnout.
Arriving to the caucuses early (6pm), I found myself alone, and disappointed. Had my family and friends been leading me on the entire day?
However, at the scheduled starting time of the caucuses (6:30pm), the room quickly overflowed with voters. Seizing the opportunity, I traveled the room to find out why the voters were making it a point to make their vote count.
After conversing with several voters, it became apparent what subjects that voters were most concerned about:

- The decline in the U.S. economy
- The desire to get out of the war
- The dread of so many jobs moving overseas

“Americans are working harder and longer, but getting less,” stated David Bonello, editor of Wellness Directory of Minnesota. “Middle class people are now only one paycheck and one medical bill away from bankruptcy.”
“Our economy is bad,” said Jeff Rod, a machine operator at TEAM Industries. “Only 10% of manufacture jobs are still in the U.S.”
Bonello and Rod’s statements sum up how many fellow caucus attendees felt, and it was while I was conversing with these attendees why there was such a large outcome for the caucuses:
We want things to change. We do not want to allow ourselves or others sit back as our political leaders fail to meet their campaigned promises. We are getting involved so that there is a change, so that promises aren’t broken, so that America can change.