October 20th, 2008 by john 
in Categories: 
I have been thinking a lot lately about our privilege and responsibility to vote. How millions of people around the world envy our freedom to make a difference. And the fact that many of us sit and let the course of our country be chosen by others. Voting is essential to preserving our democracy and your participation is critical.
Make a Difference
If you have been a regular reader you know I don’t usually get political. And I’m not starting now. Not really. You know, don’t discuss religion or politics amongst friends. I just feel that it is extremely important that we all participate in the voting process. I’m not telling you who to vote for, just that you should get out and vote! Go ahead, make a difference. Think your vote doesn’t count? Just ask George Bush or Al Gore. If more registered voters had turned out, Al Gore could possibly have won an additional state or two and achieved the electoral votes needed to push him over the top. Or George Bush could have received enough votes to win the “popular vote”, possibly avoiding the stand off and recounts.
~ The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter. ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
Positive Trend
On a positive note, voter turnout has been improving in recent years. According to the US Census Bureau, the 2000 election saw a 60% turnout of U.S. citizens age 18 and over. Further, 64% of U.S. citizens age 18 and over voted in the 2004 election. This is very promising and I hope the upward trend continues.
Undecided?
With just two weeks until the election, I’m not sure how anyone could be undecided at this point. These guys are polar opposites! But in the event you are not sure who should get your vote, visit the candidates websites. Go ahead, look around. Read up on their proposals. See for yourself what they have in mind and see if it is in line with your own interests and beliefs. If you are not thrilled with either of these guys, you could always write in someone in protest.
Put Up or Shut Up!
Let’s face it, if you don’t bother to vote, you have no right to complain about the outcome. This is a pet pieve of mine. You hear some yo-yo talking trash, complaining about everything, how messed up things are, only to find out they didn’t vote. SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP! Did I say that out loud?
~ A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won’t cross the street to vote in a national election. ~ Bill Vaughan
Start ‘em Young
Get your kids involved in the voting process. Ever since our children were in elementary school, they were able to vote along side us in a mock election. Every year we would arrive as soon as the polls opened, vote and then we go to breakfast. Well, traditions die hard, so this year we have a twist. Both of our “kids” are registered to vote. It is their first real election and they are both very excited. With our busy schedules, we decided to switch it up this year and meet in the evening to vote and then go to dinner. Make it a family affair!
The Big Day
So, get out on Tuesday, November 4th and make your voice heard. Your country is depending on you.
Are you planning to vote? Do you involve your kids in the process?
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My name is John.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
My grandfather used to say, “If you don’t vote, then ya can’t complain.”
And while we are watching the debates, we have our 15 year old son sit in there and watch it with us too.
We’re looking forward to November 4th!
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John reply on October 21st, 2008 11:05 pm:
That’s great Paul! We have always had the kids watch the Presidential debates as well. We also have watched (some of) both parties conventions.
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I’ll be voting. I have voted in every election since I was old enough to vote. I don’t want to get all political either. But let’s just say I was decided until certain VP nominations were announced. Then I was undecided, now I guess I’m decided again. Follow that – lol! My kids are involved they probably know more then me. They learn it at school (more then I ever did at their age) and my daughter’s Brownie troop is learning all about voting. She has to get people to sign a petition promising to vote. And she gave me a sticker that said “I promised a Girl Scout I’d vote.”
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John reply on October 21st, 2008 11:09 pm:
Sue – I like that your daughters Brownie troop is learning about voting. That’s terrific. I agree that kids today know more about the elections than when I was in school. My daughters Government class has been watching the debates and news clips. They are all up to date!
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Good post John voting is important but like i’ve said on my blog if your still undecided don’t vote lol.
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John reply on October 21st, 2008 11:11 pm:
Tim, it is kind of scary for someone with no opinion to blindly pick a candidate! Maybe they should stay home!
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Great post John I couldn’t agree with you more! I do not have children but when I do they will be educated early. I am glad you did a post like this, the one that drives me crazy is that it is such a taboo to talk about politics. The best way to educate yourself is through research and healthy discourse.
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I so agree! It’s more important than ever! Making sure that everyone you know understands what a privilege and DUTY it is to choose your leaders is a must!
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I want to stop and add my comments here as well. It is a great post. I suspect we don’t all have the same political opinions, but respecting each others opinions and getting out to vote is so important.
This year, my daughter who is off in college will vote for the first time. I asked her if she was going to register here where I live or where she goes to college. She said that she spends most of her life at college, so she feels it is better to vote there. However, she said one other thing that really touched my heart.
She talked about when she was six and I took her into the voting booth to cast my vote. On the way in and the way out, we talked about voting, who gets to vote, responsibilities of voting, trying to understand what candidates really stand for, and so on.
When she told me that she was registering to vote at school, she said that ever since that day in the voting booth twelve years ago, she has looked forward to the day that she would get to vote, and because of that she wanted to be able to vote in person, and not via absentee ballot.
So, what will I do on election day? It will be my wedding anniversary, so my wife and I will head to the voting booth early in the morning with our seven year old daughter. We will cast our votes, and then I will poll stand, talking to any voters showing up that haven’t thought enough about the State Legislative races and the ballot initiatives. Then, in the late morning, I will hop on a train down to Washington DC where I will blog the election returns from the NPR Studios along with a bunch of other bloggers, international news reporters and NPR staff.
No matter who wins, it will be a historic night, and I am very much looking forward to it.
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If you don’t vote, then you lose your right to complain about government. Scary isn’t it!!
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The number of people casting their vote this November is both exciting and encouraging. I’m particularly excited about the younger vote. The fresh perspective they’re bringing will hopefully help the USA to get back in sync with the rest of the world.
Best,
Lisa
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I will vote for sure, but honestly, i am trying to get my kids out of this. They will have their own opinion when time comes for it. They are still young to think of global problems.
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What a neat tradition, to eat after voting! I like it!!
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Voting is definitely important, and of course occurs in other countries, too! The US doesn’t have a privileged stake on “freedom”… I had a great time watching through this past election… but like one African-American student at a local college said, it will be a great day when this kind of thing doesn’t feel as monumental as it has been.
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John reply on November 15th, 2008 6:05 pm:
MoneyEnergy,
I did not mean to imply the US has a monopoly on freedom, even though there are many places around the world that have no concept of freedom. I was simply speaking to my US readers about the US election. It’s sort of impractical to tell a non-US reader to get out and vote!
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