Joe Schmo for President?
A guy came up to me at a coffeehouse with a clipboard, asking me if I can sign his petition. His petition was to get on the ballot to run for office. But this wasn’t for just any office. It was for President of the United States of America.
He went on to clarify that he needs a certain amount of signatures, and though he knew he wouldn’t get really any votes to mention, he wanted to do it just so he can say he did it. It was a sort of bucket list kind of thing.
He was somewhere between 40 and 50 years old, didn’t look too healthy, and it wouldn’t have surprised me if he turned out to be homeless. In the 3 seconds of me thinking it over, he told me that by signing, I’m not committing to voting for him. It’s just to get his name on the ballot.
This is what I like about America, and countries like it. Almost anyone can run for office. Almost anyone can try to get placed into a position where they could affect society-hopefully for the better and not worse. But the opportunity is there.
I wanted this man to have this moment, to have his name among the list of many who register to run for office.
I signed his petition to run for President.
A few will win, many will lose, and it’s a bucket list sort of thing that you and me are fortunate to have.
Originally published at http://stevedustcircleus.wordpress.com on December 14, 2022.