Be a Part of Our U.S. Democracy

When you go into the voting booth on Tuesday - if you have not already participated in early voting - no one will step in there with you. Oh, sure, you might be under the watchful eye of poll watchers. You may receive some voting machine guidance from an over-worked and under-paid poll manager. But, really, it's just you and your conscience.

 

You are going to be asked to fulfill Our Nation's highest duty - charting the path for the next two years, at least. Everything that everybody's told you about how to vote. Every dark-money television ad you have been subjected to. Every annoying text and/or robo-call you've received. They will stick with you, surely, but they will have no influence over your decision. It's Yours, and you are going to have to be prepared to live with it.

 

However, you are not without guidance inside that voting booth - by yourself. 

 

FDR said, "Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely."

 

Ronald Reagan said, "The right to vote is the crown jewel of American liberties, and we will not see its luster diminished."

 

By not voting, you certainly do not give up your right to complain. That right is enshrined in The Constitution. It is the First Amendment right to free speech. It is the right to write a Letter to the Editor and have it considered for publication by a press unrestrained by the Government.

 

It is your right to peacefully protest when you feel conditions warrant that kind of expression.

 

But, if you don't vote, your outrage, your vitriol, your social media posting and attempts at influencing, indeed your simple worry when economic times get hard for your family, all ring hollow. You had a chance to DO SOMETHING, and you decided to pass. We don't know about you, but a person like that has no business trying to influence us. Because, that's what Democracy is all about - when people have a chance to do something, they do it. Within the bounds of the law. Hopefully without the red tape of voter registration not having an address, or the state suspecting that you might not be a real American, or a foreign power reaching into our voting machines to "modify" The Will of The People.

 

We Americans have a reasonable expectation that the people whose job it is to protect our elections will do, and have done their jobs. If they're not, all the more reason to vote them out. 

 

When you think about it, we are not asked to do a lot for our country. Young men are not subject to an active draft any more. Taxes are a burden but not a great one provided we all are assessed our fair share. We are not asked to all dress alike, in the Uniform of the State. Nobody makes us run for office, or even serve in an office or on a board or commission, or in a non-profit - we do that, or not, of our own free will. 

 

On Tuesday, our nation comes to us asking for one thing. Just Vote.

 

Nobody is going to know if you did it, or not. You can say that little "I Voted" sticker blew off your shirt - if someone asks where it is (and you don't want to say, "none of your business”), The Vote Police aren't going to come-a-knocking on your door. You don't owe anybody an explanation about anything; when it comes to voting there's just one thing that's tried and true, through the ages.

 

It's just you, and your conscience.