The Annoyed Voter’s Guide to 2014 & 2015

The Annoyed Voter’s to 2014 & 2015 speaks for itself. One of a handful of voter guides available for American voters, Wilcox’s concise handbook goes beyond the essential electoral politics leading up to the 2016 presidential election by addressing the concern of many Americans who wonder “where this country is heading in the near-and-also-distant future.”

Political blogger (FairPayNow.org) Anthony Wilcox may consider himself “both a humble fellow citizen and a concerned American voter.” But Wilcox, who holds a M.A. in Political Science, has a way with words that are reminiscent of something one would hear on the Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert shows. Barring vulgarity, Wilcox is, in his own right, a pundit whose political analyses and predictions not only speak to older voters, but also to disheartened college students who have been waiting for their turn to make a difference in Washington, only to observe complete chaos among the nation’s leaders.

Wilcox’s approach is a bit different from a lot of analysts who look to 2010 “as a sign of things to come for Democrats in 2014.” And although he doesn’t disagree with their results, Wilcox chooses to focus on 2006 (the final midterm before the end of George W. Bush’s Presidency) and 1998 (during Bill Clinton’s administration). Wilcox sees these years as “true equivalents to 2014. As he states, “after six years in power, even popular Presidents have faded often into becoming ‘just another one of those guys…'” But added to the national mood that seems to be going against President Obama and his Party, Wilcox doesn’t anticipate districts shifting over to the Democrats anytime soon.

While covering a detailed alphabetical 2014 state-by-state election analysis, Wilcox saves the most critical state, Illinois, for last. Not that political corruption isn’t existent elsewhere in the U. S. of A., Illinois is known for being a hotbed for dirty business – thus its nickname, The Windy City. This segues nicely into gubernatorial races and mayoral and municipal elections in a handful of states and cities, respectively. His predictions, unsurprisingly, do not paint a stunning picture for those rooting for the Democrats. Nonetheless, Wilcox keeps his narrative flowing by including his list of potential presidential candidates and possible contenders for both parties. Indeed, an interesting mix of both men and women!

Wilcox winds down his guidebook by taking a stark look at the issues that have been and will continue to affect the American people. Current issues include same-sex marriage, Edward Snowden and national privacy, income inequality, gun control, Ferguson and other race relations, the recent immigration trends, global warming, campaign finance reform, and voter suppression. Older issues that just keep evolving year after year include foreign policy, religion and violence – particularly with Islam (which is ironic since most Muslims are peaceful people), marijuana legalization (which seems to have been going on forever), and a real oldie – one that would make Susan B. Anthony turn in her grave – women and minorities in American politics.

In closing, Wilcox includes open letters to both the Democratic and Republican parties. He not only reminds them of their incredible and invaluable history in this country, but also challenges them (especially to John Boehner) to take a good look at their present images and turn their lack of effectiveness back into a strong and vital operational component that supports the American people. Most importantly, Wilcox suggests to voter readers that while the world is constantly changing, they need to do more than just show up at the polls every few years. He includes a slew of activities to keep them from becoming cynical and dropping out of the voting arena altogether.

A great resource, The Annoyed Voter’s Guide to 2014 & 2015 can offer positive direction and a bit of hope for young and seasoned voters during these trying times.