The election is over and it appears that GW will be giving us another four years in the White House. Whether or not you like it, (apparently many people in this area, not surprisingly, don\'t like it), he will be our president for the next four years.

Okay, fine...I can accept that...the vote was counted, the voice was apparently heard. Enough said. Being a new voter however, what I do not understand is this:

Everyone was out there pushing everyone else to vote, to make sure your voice is heard, because after all this is what this country is all about. Being able to vote your choice is indeed a beautiful thing. Why then, is everyone so upset when this system has worked just the way it was supposed to?

Whether you were for GW or for the John\'s, the system did what it was supposed to do. Conspiracy theorie, \"scandals & schemes\" aside, the system played itself out as it was intended. Why then, oh GOD why is it that so many people are upset and threatening to move to Canada, Mexico, *CUBA*? (I mean c\'mon, CUBA?!?!)

Here I was right up until the last minute, swearing I wouldn\'t vote. The proud voters of America then somewhat *guilted* me into voting...(I do thank them for that in all honesty...I will vote again). I\'ve inserted myself into the system, and ya know what, I didn\'t vote for GW. However, I appreciate the fact that the system we have in place worked as it was intended. I\'m not moving to Mexico, Canada or God forbid CUBA. Someone really needs to explain to me, why voting was such a big deal to them if they are only going to gripe about it, and point out its flaws etc because their candidate didn\'t close the deal. Seriously, explain it to me, because being a newbie, I don\'t get it.

You got me to vote, (and many other new voters as well). Why are you failing to see that as a success? The public was heard, and made themselves heard. The very same freedom that allows one to call someone else and IDIOT for voting for GW is the very same freedom that allowed the name caller to vote for their preference. Just because what was spoken by the public doesn\'t reflect your world view doesn\'t make everything wrong. We are a diverse people, that diversity is a beautiful thing.

You may say to me, \"but Ryan, people were not being allowed to vote here or there\" etc. If that is the case, then why were you concerned with convincing people to go out and vote in the first place if the system is that flawed? Purely by the fact that you are pushing to get people out to vote shows that you have faith in the system. So it is with that faith in the system that I ask you to applaud yourselves for getting so many people out to vote, especially the people like me, and accept the fact that we lost this time around. Change takes time, keep up the efforts of getting more and more people to the polls and maybe in another four years you\'ll be able to come back from Mexico, Canada, or CUBA...(I\'m mean really, CUBA?!?)