Smurf Turf and Stuffed Ballot Boxes

The past week has been nothing short of tumultuous here in St. Petersburg. Unless you are stuck in Afghan caves, the Amazon jungle or Middle Earth, you have indeed seen news coverage of the Russian presidential elections.

            In years past, the political machine of United Russia, a party led by current prime minister Vladimir Putin and Dimitri Medvedev, holds a grip, to put it lightly, on the state duma. (Russian congress) This power has come under intense scrutiny lately due to alleged - no- actual vote rigging by United Russia (There have been reports of hundreds of filled out ballots already in ballot boxes for United Russia before voting opened Monday morning. Consequently, many Russian citizens are sick of fake democracy and want a legitimate chance. 

People whining about a legitimate chance? That reminds me of a certain blue and orange-clad college football coach!

Enter Chris Petersen coach of Boise State, who commented on the Russian elections just a few days ago: "“The whole thing needs to be changed, there’s no question about it,” he said. “… I think (change) is coming, I really do.” Even the coach of a Mountain-whatever conference sees the elections as utter garbage.

Wait... He wasn't talking about Russian Democracy? He was talking about what? The BCS system? OH!

Yes. Unsatisfied individuals within College Football and Russian Democracy are currently in the same state. I just pictured a beer-bellied Boise Fan with a cowboy hat and Kellen Moore jersey agreeing with a leather jacket wearing Russian with a man purse. Ha.

Boise State? Mad about their wins not counting towards something legitimate. Russian citizens? Livid about their votes not mattering in a "democratic" election. But the solution is so applicable to both parties! (Granted the BCS system is not rigged, unlike the Chechen regions of Russia turning in above a 99% vote for United Russia.)

If there is any hope for an out-vote of United Russia, Russians must actually vote first of all, and second of all, they must find and fully support a party. The communist party came in 2nd in the elections, with many citizens voting for the Party simply because it was the only party with an adequate chance to overthrow United Russia's majority. These vigilante voters opposed to United Russia must abandon small political biases and reach for a higher goal of fair and true democracy. Same goes for Boise State. Coach Petersen, please abandon your complaints about a one-loss season and join a bigger and better conference which would give you a better chance come BCS selection time.

The underlying theme is drastic change which would theoretically overwhelm things that either groups cannot change. Obviously a Russian citizen in Saint Petersburg has no control over radicals holding people at gun-point and forcing them to vote for United Russia, just as Boise State has no control over LSU trampling SEC opposition. However, a Russian can help another party campaign, compel his lazy neighbors to vote (legally), and protest BEFORE the elections actually happen, just as Boise can join another conference.

Stop complaining, Start changing.