Flash Memoir: A country built off Bribery

Friendships weren’t hard to come by in Argentina. I came to be close to many people every time I saw their smile emerge from under their grief. Those smiles were like spears of sunshine among a Sara Mchlachlin-type commercial. It never mattered that certain parts of their lives were missing; clean neighborhoods, safe streets, and hopeful changes were a nicety that was about as rare as snow in our California.

I remember a day where it wasn’t too cold outside. It didn’t get cold for another few months. We were hoping on it. This villa was called Barrio Nueva, a newly formed area of homes. One place had my mind- the Quintana family’s home. This 3-generation family was lead by Señora Quintana’s smiling aged face. As always, gratitude was insufficient to express for their gesture of a small cup of water. Their humble life was opened through a curtain posing as their front door, bare walls and empty rooms filling their self-constructed home. Señora

"It didn’t seem to be a big deal after all, only a few people have brought it up so far. What do they care? I was trying at least. It’s pretty unnerving not being able to participate in the election. Being out of state wasn’t helping much, leaving for 2 years and coming back halfway into the term. This was supposed to be my first time I could vote! I wish I could cast, then I could say that I tried to change the outcome. But how could I get a ballot in Argentina?” Had my vote been cast for Trump, I would have felt pretty happy. Hillary? The opposite- cheated, left out, not counted, alone. Those that had voted may have fallen into one of these categories, and may have felt as though they couldn’t get their say in. In 2015-16 I was in Argentina. It wasn’t on my mind often, but when it came up it lingered for a while. So much controversy was being brought up over the election I hadn’t heard about until after I came back from South America and Trump was making America great again. Did the cheat? That seemed to be the motion. I learned what it feels like when your vote goes unnoticed. For the sake of pity, let’s disregard for the current the lingering conversation that all that can vote should, but not put aside its importance. What I aim to question is this: How, if at all, would my singular vote have affected the outcome of the 2016 Election in the united states? There are many ballots that seem to go unnoticed. Here in Utah in 2019 there was the Big Prop 2 controversy. It passed! Or did it? It sure did get the votes, but afterwards was amended by several groups in order to create a “more comfortable bill”. I’m not here to go into religion and state (If you would like to learn more about what I’ve learned regarding that topic, see my work). The real question is this: How do our votes count when we use them?

Quintana’s home was managed by her son, who often was at work and didn’t have time for a visit. My mind shrank to see how so much work would bring so little for his family. Suggestions to turn to the government or other charities were hushed- under the pretense that their freedom was fleeting. “Too much corruption up top” they would say. They had ways given them of bringing points to their government, but too often those pleas were silenced by bribery.

I’ve never thought the same struggle would affect me too. Taught at a young age in America, I was given the chance to be anyone in the world, control my own freedoms, and be able to

U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland appears before the House Intelligence Committee during an impeachment hearing on Wednesday. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

become great. Now that age has beset the kinder times of life, reality has struck more profoundly. Money is the real power in the world, and no amount of control by the people can control that. Even recently, the annoying debate revolving around a quid pro quo has the country dumbfounded. President Trump has offered “peace money” to receive an effect from Ukraine. Before that, (even before his appointment to office) he spent millions on his campaign. Votes can be bought, showing that from the individual to the country there is always a price tag.

That corroding overcast of control by money stems deep into the roots of mistrust- form Argentine’s to American’s, and is also worldwide. We can say either yea or nay- a simple vote. But how far will that go to curb how the government is run? “We the people” need more power.

#WashingtonPost