When andrew came home
The Parent Vote
Although the election was a week ago, I find myself wondering how parents voted as a group, i.e. what percentage voted for McCain versus Obama. Every other demographic has been broken down for us in the media–the young, the old, minorities, men, women, White men–with speculation about which group put Obama over the top. I think it would also be interesting to hear how parents voted. Why? Because being a parent changes your perspective on just about everything in life. Once you have your own family the issues that concern you often change–big time. Do parents, as a voting block, make a difference in elections?
When I was single I was clueless about the cost of healthcare for married couples with children or the many illnesses children have which are not covered (autism, for example), or maternity leave being so short and not fully paid (in Canada women get 14 mos. of paid maternity leave and in Sweden parents get 16 mos. at 80% pay), the fact that men didn’t have paternity leave (available now through the Family and Medical Leave Act), the difficulty that many mothers have reentering the workforce or trying to balance work and motherhood, the lack of affordable childcare, education issues (the U.S. ranks 7th in amount of population with high school diploma), etc.
Now that I’m a mother these have become my top voting issues. When I was single my top voting issues were equal pay for women, women’s right to choose, economics, and taxes. I was also concerned about the environment , but now that I have children I’m even more concerned: I want my children and their children and their children’s children to be able to enjoy this beautiful planet of ours and to breathe without a gas mask.
I have always been a Democrat because, in general, Democrats care about people–all people. They’re inclusive, concerned about the welfare and rights of others, and like to “share the wealth” and other resources, including the environment. They are firm believers in protecting the rights of others, including animals, and have more of a socialistic perspective on the issues.
As a parent, I am even more interested in the welfare of others than I was before. I want everyone to have organic food, money for college, and enough income to meet their own and their childrens’ basic needs and then some. Call me a pollyanna (or a socialist, which suits me just fine) but I believe everyone should have their basic needs met, including health care, affordable housing, and childcare. So, I would have voted for any Democratic presidential candidate that was on the ticket just because I could rest assured that at least some of the needs of people in this country would be addressed, which is better than none.
Obviously, I voted for Obama. But I voted for him not just because he shares my values and concerns for this country and for the people who live here (yes, including immigrants), but for three other reasons, as well: 1) to help cross the racial divide in this country and, 2) to put a visionary in the White House and, 3) he’s a family man with family values and concerns. I couldn’t be happier that he won, or more excited to see what changes he will bring to this country.
And so I wonder how many parents voted for our new President-Elect. Who knows? Maybe parents made the difference that put Barack Obama in office. Not that it matters in the end, but I can’t help but wonder how parents as a group affect the legislation and voting in this country.
Original post on Silicon Valley Moms Blog.
Related posts: 2008 cma s, Gray gardens, Obama economy, Married with children reunion, Obama family