Electorate tourism, part IV

Phoebe Connelly

Observers from around the world report that they were inspired and moved by America's most recent attempt to hold a public election in accordance with the standards of a democratic republic. "After all of the recriminations, infighting, and general madness before the election, the people of this fractured nation still found the courage to show up at the polls," said Anas Salman, an Afghan U.N. official who was in New York during the American electoral experiment. "More than half of America's citizens???a large portion of them women???made a valiant attempt to choose their own leader, even though there was no guarantee their votes would be counted. It was truly inspirational." Oh wait. That's not actual international coverage, that's The Onion! U.S. Inspires World With Attempt At Democratic Election

Phoebe Connelly, a former managing editor at In These Times, is Web Editor at The American Prospect.
The text is from the poem “QUADRENNIAL” by Golden, reprinted with permission. It was first published in the Poetry Project. Inside front cover photo by Golden.
Get 10 issues for $19.95

Subscribe to the print magazine.