Well November 4 is finally here. I’ve sent in my absentee ballot, hassled my unregistered friends, written a few respectful, pleading emails to my undecided relatives, I even attempted to bribe my on-the-fence Grandma with a free lunch at Pizzeria Uno. All there is left to do now is wait.

This is by far the most important election in my lifetime. The stakes have never been higher or the choice clearer. I’ll be watching the results from Beijing, where I’ll be working for the next couple months. In some ways I’d rather be back in the USofA tightly snuggled into a pro-Obama pocket somewhere, surrounded by kindred citizens in whose company I can celebrate/mourn tomorrow. But I spent most of this election cycle abroad, monitoring obsessively online so I guess it’s appropriate that I end it that way.

I’m not a religious man, but I may even pray tonight. In addition, I may have a nervous breakdown. Such are the wages of hope. But before I tune in and drop out, I want to post up one final artifact from the election. My friend Josh put me on to this and I actually consider it a powerful argument in defense of America’s much maligned democratic process. It’s a clip of students from Ron Clark Academy in ATL performing (with gusto) their song ‘You can vote however you like’ at a UN event. This was bit of a sensation in the US last week and I think it speaks volumes to the pride, energy, and (corny as it sounds) hope that the Obama campaign has inspired within a country that’s been running on empty. It also indisputably supports my theory (first arrived at on the dance floor at the opening of ‘Rio Cruzeiro’ last week) that human beings grow progressively less interesting as they age.

In case you’re wondering, the song is an interpolation of this song, which is ubiquitous in America at the moment. Enthusiasm trumps clarity at a few points there, but it’s worth reading the lyrics. Check em out after the jump…

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

(McCain supporters)
McCain is the man
Fought for us in Vietnam
You know if anyone can
Help our country he can
Taxes droppin low
Dont you know oils gonna flow
Drill it low
I’ll show our economy will grow

McCain’s the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They’ll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might

(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama’s new, he’s younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He’ll bring a change, he’s got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq’s a shame
Four more years would be insane

Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won’t
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won’t!
Have enough experience - you know that they don’t
STOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won’t

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you’re going to have some drama
We need it
HE’LL BRING IT
He’ll be it
YOU’LL SEE IT
We’ll do it
GET TO IT
Let’s move it
DO IT!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

I’m talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice

But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick wit McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN’T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

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