The presidential election this year is one of the most polarized and divisive in recent memory. Many of you may feel that because the name-calling and mud slinging is so nasty that you would rather not vote at all. Let me assure you nothing could be further from the truth. The most direct way to exercise your rights, privileges, and obligations as a citizen of the United States is to vote for the people who represent you. Let me repeat that. The most direct way to exercise your rights, privileges, and obligations as a citizen of the United States is to vote for the people who represent you.
Which candidate for President you vote for may or may not seem to be important, depending on your state. In Texas, Bush will win no matter what the democrats do, ditto for Kerry and California and republicans. Florida and Michigan, on the other hand, could go either way. Nonetheless, the act of voting is crucial to keeping our country strong. If you don't vote for 'your' candidate, the other side wins by virtue of intimidation. More to the point, if you don't vote at all then the interests that don't want you to have a choice win.
In order to vote you must be registered. Time is running short. States close their voting registration 'books' from two weeks up to a month before elections are held. Get your butt in gear and get registered, even if you have not decided whom you will vote for (or against!). If you are not registered you can't even play and there is just no excuse for drooping the ball like that.
OK, OK - you've heard it before - "Rock the Vote"; "Vote or Die"; “Just Vote”; and all the other get out the vote stuff. It’s still important. It's THAT important. Keep reading...
Here is the part you may have missed. And I hate to say it but it is more ignored yet even more important than the presidential races.
There are more races than President to decide this fall. Every member of the House of Representatives and one third of the Senate is also up for grabs. Not to mention governors, state offices and legislators, judges, and all the local mayors, council members, school boards, and yes, even dogcatchers.
These "down ticket" races will affect you more directly and immediately than the President will ever hope to. State College funding is set at the state capitol, not D.C. City street repair and garbage pickup is run from City Hall. Traffic tickets and family courts are presided over by elected judges in many states. You need to get to know something about how the candidates for these offices will approach their office. These people are asking you for a job. If you don’t help to select them someone else will. And you cannot be sure they have your best interest at heart.
Where to do that? Look up your local League of Women Voters for a start. They ask candidates for statements and biographies and publish them with no bias. If you do have a party preference look for the local precinct or club meetings. They ask candidates to come and talk (only the one flavor, of course) and you can get to know who they are. The local newspapers should also be doing profiles independent of their editorial endorsements. You may have community access TV with candidate forums and your college democrat or republican group may invite candidates to speak. Go to the web sites. Most of them still look like a hand out that is scanned in but they are getting better. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and expect real answers.
This is the 'spade work' of democracy. Just like a garden, you have to get your hands dirty if you want the best outcome. Yes, there is a lot of B.S. to use as fertilizer, but the closer you get, the easier it is to tell it for what it is.
To sum up:
- Get registered to vote
- Find out who is running for office and what they stand for.
- Vote all the way down the ticket
VOTE, DAMMIT! Vote Like Your Life Depends on it!
From an undisclosed location... I am Diogenes and I approved this message.
