In 1986, I was 25 years old, and I had a memorable conversation with an older gentleman. The off-year elections were coming up in November of that year, and I had made a comment that I wasn’t going to vote because I felt that my vote didn’t matter. We were Democrats living in Northern Michigan, in an area heavily controlled by Republicans. The older gentleman said to me, “Oh, but you have to vote. It’s your right. People fought and died for you to have that right, and you must exercise it.”
That one conversation changed my attitude about voting and politics. From that time, I have voted in every election, whether for school board members, judges, ballot proposals, bonds, high offices, you name it. Even though my two U.S. Senators are not up for reelection this fall, and the U.S. Representative serving my solid blue district will most likely be reelected, I will vote. I am also giving money to other Democratic candidates in tough races in other parts of the country, to help them get out the vote and convince people who might think like I formerly did.
If I vote, I feel justified in sending notes to my representatives or senators, or to the Speaker of the House, telling them how I feel about what they are doing with my tax dollars. If people don’t take the time to vote, we get the kind of representation, or perhaps, non-representation, that we have now. I was very discouraged to hear that only 18% of the population voted in the primary elections in June. I think about all those people in “developing” countries, walking miles and standing in long lines to vote. And 90% of those populations vote. 90% vote! I want to shake the American people some times.
I recently heard of the idea that we could fine people who don’t vote. I like that idea. If it were implemented, I’m sure people would vote in the next election to throw the bums out who had the audacity to fine the non-voters. It seems to hold true that people don’t really pay attention or make changes until they are hit in the wallet.
If you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to gripe about how things need to change. I don’t buy the victim mentality of those who say their vote doesn’t matter or that we don’t have any power. We have a system in place. We don’t need a revolution; we don’t need violent protests. We need to get off of our butts and exercise the rights we already have in this great country. When politicians act opposite my values and waste my tax dollars, I have the obligation to make the changes, or at least go on record as voicing my active opposition. I wish other people were more active too.
That one conversation changed my attitude about voting and politics. From that time, I have voted in every election, whether for school board members, judges, ballot proposals, bonds, high offices, you name it. Even though my two U.S. Senators are not up for reelection this fall, and the U.S. Representative serving my solid blue district will most likely be reelected, I will vote. I am also giving money to other Democratic candidates in tough races in other parts of the country, to help them get out the vote and convince people who might think like I formerly did.
If I vote, I feel justified in sending notes to my representatives or senators, or to the Speaker of the House, telling them how I feel about what they are doing with my tax dollars. If people don’t take the time to vote, we get the kind of representation, or perhaps, non-representation, that we have now. I was very discouraged to hear that only 18% of the population voted in the primary elections in June. I think about all those people in “developing” countries, walking miles and standing in long lines to vote. And 90% of those populations vote. 90% vote! I want to shake the American people some times.
I recently heard of the idea that we could fine people who don’t vote. I like that idea. If it were implemented, I’m sure people would vote in the next election to throw the bums out who had the audacity to fine the non-voters. It seems to hold true that people don’t really pay attention or make changes until they are hit in the wallet.
If you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to gripe about how things need to change. I don’t buy the victim mentality of those who say their vote doesn’t matter or that we don’t have any power. We have a system in place. We don’t need a revolution; we don’t need violent protests. We need to get off of our butts and exercise the rights we already have in this great country. When politicians act opposite my values and waste my tax dollars, I have the obligation to make the changes, or at least go on record as voicing my active opposition. I wish other people were more active too.
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