I've just read the election results for the county that I live in. . . .and I am amazed that only 30% of the registered voters in the county actually went to the polls (or submitted absentee ballots) to cast their ballots.
Ok, there might be some argument that "well it's mid-terms" or other such, to me, nonsense. . . .that still doesn't account for the lack of action. . . .again, that is my opinion.
I will admit that I do not vote in the school board elections. . . .but I feel that I do not have enough knowledge to accurately decide the best candidates in those races since I do not have children in the school system and don't have enough of a working knowledge of the needs and day-to-day concerns of the school system.
If others feel that my reasoning is a "cop out" I can accept that.
But when it comes to the way my borough, my county, my state and my country are run you can "bet the farm" that I get involved and I vote.
Yes, there are plenty of people that will say. . . "Washington does what they want regardless of what the people say". Admittedly, sometimes it feels that way. . . so perhaps they do.
But why are they able to do that? Because people do not vote. . .either to oust those they don't like, or re-elect those that they do like.
Yes, political advertising has gotten to be no more than name calling & almost as scandalous as the latest TV reality show. . . .but all of that "clutter" can be done away with if you check voting records and actually look to the attitude of the individual candidate.
Does all of this take time? Yes, it does. Does it mean that you may have to think and ponder and reflect on the issues at hand? Yes, it does. Does it mean that you may not be "following the crowd" with your vote? Well, yes, it does.
But you don't have to tell anyone how you voted. . . you just have to do it.
Mr. Books and I vote. . . .and sometimes we don't agree, but we still do it because without us the system doesn't work.
Yes, I think that we would both prefer to have a real THREE or FOUR party race. . . now wouldn't THAT shake up the "Washington insiders"?
However, from my perspective, while elections appear to be won or lost on how much money gets spent on advertising, etc. that option doesn't seem to have a chance. But, again, everything comes down to what the VOTERS do.
If you voted yesterday, thank you & congratulations (even if your candidate didn't win). If you did not vote yesterday, shame on you & I better not hear you utter one complaint about anything that the government does.
There is a quote I heard a while back. . . .and if you recognize it please let me know that I can give credit here. . . .it went something like:
"To make no decision is to make a decision"
For me, I'd rather be in charge of my decisions. . . .and that is why I vote.
In peace and pieces,
