In the United States, the president comes to power essentially because three out of every ten citizens vote for him. Three out of ten. Of the remaining seven, four do not vote and three vote against him. It is with this backdrop that we sought out José “Pepe” Mujica, labeled by the BBC as “the poorest president in the world”. Through the lens of his experience as an activist, revolutionary, political prisoner, legislator, and president, Pepe Mujica helps us view politics in a different way. He invites us to reflect on the power we hold with our vote. On the power individuals and communities forfeits by not participating in elections. On the danger it represents to let others decide for you. Vote and see is a forthright call to all American citizens to cast their vote in the next presidential elections.
About the Author: Darío Klein interviews José "Pepe" Mujica
DARÍO KLEIN (1969) is an award-winning journalist who has been a correspondent and chief editor for major news agencies and networks such as AFP and CNN. He has covered a wide range of international news stories, from the Syrian civil war and refugee crisis to Hurricane Katrina, and is currently a correspondent for CNN en Español in Uruguay and co-director of the online journal www.sudestada.com.uy. Klein has directed and produced documentaries for National Geographic, Discovery Channel and CNN. He has received the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and the NAMIC Vision Award. He holds a PhD in Investigative Journalism from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and is a professor at the Universidad Católica del Uruguay.
QUOTES: "A thoughtful, thought-provoking, and highly recommended call to reevaluate one's life priorities" "A call to reevaluate one's life priorities, and to make one of those priorities going to the polls to vote one's conscience! Highly recommended." "Autor y editorial han trabajado para crear un formato ameno, digerible para un público no habituado a este tipo de conversación política y, sobre todo, buscando ese optimismo que caracteriza a Mujica." "Politicians have never been, nor ever will be, ideal or perfect. Yet politicians and candidates are never "all the same". Of all the available options, there's always one who's a better fit for our worldview. It’s a central idea of the book Vote and see.” // REVIEWS: Article in Hoy en Delaware News (in Spanish): http://hoyendelaware.com/vota-y-veras-2/ - Article in Al Día -Philadelphia- (in English): https://aldianews.com/articles/politics/state-and-local/vote-and-see-look-political-participation-us-through-eyes-jose "Vote and See: A Conversation with Pepe Mujica, spells out deep concerns about the political climate of the U.S., from the perspective of Pepe Mujica, who served as the 40th President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. Foremost among Mujica's worrisome observations is America's low voter turnout, particularly during non-presidential elections. Here also are discussions about how consumerism is increasingly taking control of daily life; the impact of man-made climate change and why efforts to mitigate it are so important; the basic concept that "freedom means having free time"; and much more. A handful of simple cartoons illustrate this thoughtful, thought-provoking, and highly recommended call to reevaluate one's life priorities - and to make one of those priorities going to the polls to vote one's conscience! Highly recommended." - MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW