I am certain I don’t have to remind you that Election Day is near.
If you like this commentary please pass it along to as many folks as you can and urge them to do the same!
It is of extreme importance that no matter how busy you are, no matter how many excuses you come up with, that you live up to your obligation as a citizen of this country that you participate in the process by voting!
If you think you can justify not voting by saying that you are busy, or tired or because you have a sore throat, think of the sacrifices of all of our soldiers throughout the history of our nation who went in harm’s way and returned injured from battles, or perhaps, not at all- to preserve our cherished way of life!
What excuse do you think you really have, now, to not vote?
Here is a wonderful short poem I want you to think about:
Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda
BY Shel Silverstein
All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin’ in the sun,
Talkin’ ’bout the things
They woulda coulda shoulda done…
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little Did.
The reason I am providing you with this short poem is that on November 3rd I don’t want you to look back at the outcome of the election for each and every one of the elected representatives who will, hopefully, represent you and your families on all levels of government and think that “if only” you and a relative handful of others had voted that, someone your really wanted to see win elected office would have.
I want to make certain that on November the third you don’t get up, review the results of the election and in frustration exclaim, “Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda!”
There is something known as “early voting,” but there most certainly is nothing called “late voting!”
The reason that so-called “special interest” groups yield as much power as they do is because often less than 50% of eligible voters actually vote, especially in so-called mid-term elections. The fewer Americans who cast ballots, the more impact that each ballot has. If more Americans voted, the less impact that special interest groups would have on the outcome of elections.
However, the practice of good citizenship does not end in the voting booth, it only begins there.
The large scale apathy demonstrated by citizens of this nation has emboldened elected representatives to all but ignore the needs of the average American citizen in a quest for massive campaign funds and the promises of votes to be ostensibly delivered by special interest groups. There is much that we cannot do but there is one thing that We the People absolutely must do- we must stop sitting on the sidelines!
The collective failure of We the People to get involved in make our concerns known to our politicians have nearly made the concerns of the great majority of the citizens of this nation all but irrelevant to the politicians. I implore you to get involved!
If this situation concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional “Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!
All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!
We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.
This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated; this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!
You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!
Democracy is not a spectator sport!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
