APATHY

A blight throughout the land
10/06/06

My vote won‘t make a difference! How many times a day across our great nation are those six little words uttered? Do those that mouth those words understand the negative power of those seven simple syllables: My vote won’t make a difference!
 

But those who utter those words fail to understand that by not voting they are making just as big an impact as if they had voted. By not voting they are possibly allowing the person who they will later complain about win an election.

A real good current example of that was the situation where a Representatives race in Alaska was decided with a coin toss due to a tie vote of 767 to 767. What if Bryce Edgmon, who won the coin toss in the Democratic Primary election, turns out to be a poor candidate that everyone is strongly disappointed in? Then people start complaining and start saying, “I wish that Incumbent Rep. Carl Moses had of won the coin toss. He was a really good guy who did a lot for us.” But hey, it’s now too late for that. Not only did Incumbent Rep. Carl Moses lose to a coin toss due to a tie vote but the cost to the State of Alaska was enormous due to the fact that ballots had to be recounted and a State Supreme court challenge had to be answered. These are all things that cost the taxpayers money.

Now I am not saying that Moses is better than Edgmon or Edgmon is better than Moses. I am sure that both gentlemen are fine individuals I am just using their situation as an example of the power of just one vote. One vote in this situation can make all the difference in an election.

Presidential electoral votes are a completely different situation and one we will not deal with here at this time. The only thing that I will state is that the Electoral College has no place in today’s society and should be disbanded. One person, one vote is the principle that our electoral system was based on and that means all elections, local, state, nation and Presidential.

One vote, as has been demonstrated, can turn the course in a local, state or national election. Apathy concerning voting power is most noticeable among lower income households and people under 30 years of age. So what has brought about this apathetic attitude among lower income and younger Americans? Well in recent years we have been witness to the authoritarian society that those in power have tried to force on our Democratic society. We see examples set by those like the “Gang of Five” (Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfield and Rove. They make it clear through their words and actions that we the people have no say in what they do or the actions they take. They manipulate our Constitution and the media to their will and make us believe that we have no power and no recourse. Therefore we feel helpless to act and respond. We are made to feel that we must accept whatever they decide to do. It is exactly what they want us to believe because it is how an authoritarian society maintains it’s control over the people. Think Hitler and his Nazi regime. Bush has as much stated this position through three memorable quotes:

“This would be so much easier if this was a dictatorship and I were the Dictator.”
“It’s my job to worry about it. It’s your job to go about your business.”
“I am the Decider and I decide what’s best.”

There are many more examples of this but these are the best. So what can we do when we are led to believe that there is nothing we can do?
It’s simple, stop believing that there is nothing we can do! The three most important words to any American are, “We The People.” As a people we can stand up and say “No, you do not make the decisions we the people do.” We can state, “No our job is to decide what’s best for us. Your job is to listen to we the people.” And we must make it clear that this is a Democratic society and that, “We the people will see a cold day in hell and the “Gang of Five” in prison for their crimes against humanity before we will succumb to their new dictating, authoritarian, regime. One way that “We The People” have the power to do that is through our voice and our voice is exercised through our vote!
I wish that it was as simple as helping people understand that the apathetic attitude towards voting was just brought about by recent events but the truth is that it goes much deeper than that. I have spent hours upon hours musing on the root cause of voter apathy and though many possibilities raise their hand for recognition only one keeps coming back to the forefront, Voter apathy can and should be laid at the feet of Family apathy.
There was a time in this society when the word media meant the daily news through daily newspaper, radio or daily news. Now it means everything sight, sound and sensory. At one time the American family talked about the days affairs instead of running off to their individual TV’s or computers. There was a time not too long ago when Americans sat down together around the dinner table and shared meals and points of views. At one time the most important round table discussions in this country were held at the dining table over a cup of after dinner coffee and dessert.
Every solution to a problem must have a beginning place to start. Maybe, just maybe the solution to our apathy can be found in a piece of apple pie and a scoop of ice cream. Instead of turning on the computer tonight and switching on your favorite primetime show sit your family down at the dinner table and have a real meal and a real discussion. If you take an hour out of each and every day to address the issue of family instead of who will get your vote tonight on American Idol then “We The Apathetic” will turn into “We The People” And remember the power to make change is within the hands of “We The People.”

I urge you to register to vote and use your voice to it’s utmost ability. Most importantly of all, whether you are Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Reform, Independent or Undecided you should always vote your heart, not your party. By truly voting for the people that you feel can best represent you then you exercise your rights in the most truest way that our founding fathers intended.

If we all make our voice heard then our futures will never again have to be decided on by the toss of a coin!

"The elected official works for the people! You do not make promises to your boss which are beyond your power to keep and expect to hold your position."

-Jim George- Democratic Candidate, Kansas State House of Representatives District #12