I suppose I should have written this before today, just in case it reached someone and made a convincing-enough argument to inspire them to go vote.
Instead, this late in the game, I will just say this: If you have the right to vote, and choose not to exercise it, then I hope for your sake that you agree with my politics, because I intend to hold my elected officials’ feet to the fire until I am satisfied with the job they do.
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We are given the right to vote in this era, without many strings attached. A lot of people throughout our history fought for that right, and yet we have it simply handed to us. For most of us, we retain the right until we choose to forfeit it.
In my opinion, if I elect not to vote, I am electing not to be represented, and that is not acceptable to me. It should not be acceptable to anyone, to pay taxes which pay the salaries of our elected officials, and then allow those same elected officials to behave as if they have no one to answer to.
I voted early, just in case I ended up not feeling well today. But my job isn’t over when the official makes his or her acceptance speech or takes office. That’s when I have to watch their every move and let them know how I feel about their performance. And at the end of their term, perhaps I will reward them for a job well done, by re-electing them. There’s also a good chance I will vote to fire them. Either way, I have a say in it.
I hope you have voted, or will before the day is over. I will be honest in saying that I hope you vote the same way I did, but I’d settle for you having your voice heard, even if you don’t or didn’t. The truth is, if my views are different from yours and mine are the minority, then I should not be the one represented. I can accept that, if I’m in the minority.
What I cannot accept is the idea that only some of us care when someone else is trying to take away our power.
Speak out. This is your chance to be heard.
