The 'ayes' have it

Most of us grew up in this land of democracy taking for granted the right to vote. It is imprinted upon us from an early age that when a decision is to be made, you vote on it. It can be major federal election, or something as basic and simple as a vote in your favorite club with an easy yea or nay voice vote. In either case, we take our voting privileges as a right of citizenship. Recent elections in America have shown an alarming tendency for voters to skip their constitutional birthright. One can only surmise the indetermanent number of reasons for this lack of dedication to civil obligation. I have heard a multitude of grounds voiced by those who need give their excuses. It matters not to me how acceptable the alibi may be, it is an excuse nonetheless.

There are many things wrong in America today, but none is more wrong than the lack of citizenship when it comes to casting a ballot. We have such high moral and well meaning standards for everyone else except ourselves.

Last week the voters in Palestine voted to put the gang of green head banded monsters called Hamas in power. The hue and cry from all our officials was immediate and threatening. How can a democracy function when they place terrorists in positions of responsibility? The real problem for Americans was that they did not look past the winners and losers and instead view the voting statistics. More than 70 percent of the available voters in a country that is racked by daily civil unrest and danger somehow managed to get to the polls and vote.

I must add here that our own observers said the election was on the up and up.

The same type of voting turnout has happened in an even more dangerous Iraq. In two major elections the voters have turned out in mass to practice the ancient right to vote. In both Palestine and Iraq free elections have never been a part of the culture.

These are old old societies and the rule of law has never been based upon democracy.

So the question for we Americans is not whether these elections are good or not, it is why do these poor backward countries turn out the vote in records we can only envy when we ourselves just can't find the time to vote? We already know the answer to that. We are lazy and complacent. Americans take for granted the right to vote and will use any and every rationale to excuse their failure. I just don't seem to have time. By the time I get off work and get the kids to their game I don't have time.

What difference does it make? My vote doesn't really matter anyway. There is no choice, all the politicians are crooks. If I am registered to vote, I may get called to jury duty.

You get the picture, the reason we have only about half the voters turn out in the big Presidential elections every four years, and only about half that amount in other elections is simple apathy. We take our freedom for granted and find excuses for not practicing the single most important right of citizenship, voting.

In a recent article our paper discussed many of the new changes in voting for Vernon County. Tammy Beech has tried to get out in front of these changes, as it would seem they may make it even more likely people will find new reasons for failing to vote. We are going to have many fewer voting locations, and I fear that will further erode voter steadfastness. The real tragedy of this problem is that so few seem to even care or be worried. It as if they think everything will work out by itself. What a terrible mistake that is. The power of the vote is not just that it gives the people the power to have government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It also gives dangerous elements the ability to exploit the lack of voting to control what happens in a manner favorable to their causes. It does not matter if you agree with the votes in the middle east, they were legal democratic votes. It does matter if our governments from the local to the federal here in America exist at the pleasure of 45 percent of the people.

It is not the right or wrong of a particular government that matters so much as the broad based elections that determine the directions those governments take.

I am tired of excuses. The next time you have a complaint about government. Before you open your mouth take a moment to ask if you have any right to express discontent. Those people who braved all types of violent threats to vote and get their fingers dipped in the dye, deserve their freedom a lot more than we do. Some day instead of not having enough time to vote, we may not have the right anymore.