Televisions are very nearly ornamental in my house; I detest them.
However, as Adorable Child (AC) approaches the dreadful Middle School Morph, I’ve been spending more evenings in the den with her (and sometimes her friends), watching various programs, and I have a surprising confession to make: I like watching American Idol (AI).
This no doubt exposes a serious character flaw, but if so, I evidently share it with millions of other people. Small comfort, perhaps, but I’ll take what I can.
Watching AI with AC, however, doesn’t mean we actually vote.
I could say that it’s because the show runs right up into her bedtime, but that would be a tad misleading. What’s actually happening is that we’re watching both Tuesday’s performances (and talking about them all the way through), and Wednesday’s voting results (and complaining about them) — in exactly the same way people complain about political elections.
This is a clear case of poor role modeling, and Polimom plans to correct the problem. I can’t let AC grow up thinking her vote doesn’t count. In fact, AI is a perfect example of why we should vote — early and often.
For instance: Last night, host Ryan Seacrest said that 30 million people voted.
C’mon now. Does anybody really believe that 10 percent of the entire population of the U.S. is picking up the phone (or texting) on Tuesday evenings? Or that a significant portion of those 30 million deliberately chose Sanjaya? Again? (and again and again… )
Are there even that many female pre-teens in the entire country?
Of course not! 30 million people aren’t voting. I think it may be more like 10 people voting 3 million times… or maybe 100 people voting 300,000 times…. or…
Thus, in preparation for our participation next Tuesday, Polimom’s planned a series of educational practice runs. Since our household has two land-lines and two cellphones, we’ll be working on finger agility (re-dial is a crucial skill), and ambidexterity (a phone in each hand).
Like a good parent, of course, I’ll be monitoring AC’s activities for both content and technique — and if I see that she’s accidently programmed in a number for someone with no talent (easily done, btw), I’ll gently correct her by taking away her two phones and giving them to Dear Husband.
We can take back our country. It just takes planning, commitment, and motivation… and after several weeks of obvious voter fraud, it’s time to act.
Vote early. Vote often.
Update: So — the American Idol homepage has a poll up, asking what people think of last night’s announced results (and contestant elimination). After casting one’s vote, the results to date are displayed, along with a “Vote Again” button.
Ahem.
Just sayin’…
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Ahhh, yes. Electoral Fraud 101: Ballot Box Stuffing.
Great lesson to teach the kiddoes, then sit back and snarkle as they howl about only getting to vote *once* in the grown up elections.
Oh, and a great way to teach AC about the value of the secret ballot, too.
Maybe we can have a course on this in the public skoolz?
~EdT.
Really? You’ve only been voting once?
Is it really so hard to believe 30 million Americans voted? You don’t have to leave the house, stand in line, show identification, a registration card. You can eat, talk with your family and best friends while you wait to vote. Its lazy, easy, and exciting. Things that real elections lack.
That is correct. I text my vote in (reduces the risk of an RSI), and so stuffing the box becomes an expensive exercise. Of course, as it gets closer to the end, I may phone in a few, but probably never more than 5/week.
After the infamous war-dialer incident involving a university in Hawaii and votes for Jasmine Trias, I think they look for evidence of hi-tech stuffing, and if they find it they simply wipe out those votes.
~EdT.
Ed — Hahahahahaha! It never occured to me you were voting in AI at all — which shows you how far off we are today in our thought processes.
Jack — I really am having trouble with their numbers. Mostly, it’s because they’ve esitmated that there are between 27 and 37 million viewers for a given show. I can’t believe I’m the only person who hasn’t been voting…
My guess is that many of the voters do so more than once. Though, it is very unlikely that anyone is voting anywhere near 100,000 times/episode. Of course, if you have multiple people voting from one phone #, the AI folks can’t tell how many people are voting – so we are unlikely ever to see such stats.
Oh, and I really don’t start voting in AI, not until the final 12 in any case.
~EdT.
Unlikely? Ya think?
Sigh… . I really did try for maximum-level-ridiculous with those numbers, but y’all are way too literal today.
Don’t take it too hard, now. Of course I realized you were engaging in what the Mighty El Rushbo calls “demonstrating absurdity by being absurd” – I was just engaging in a bit of tail-feather tweaking.
BTW, good catch on the “Vote again” button. That is phrakkin’ hilarious…. hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
~EdT.
…But once again Sanjaya defied all expectations and common sense and survived …