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Along Life’s Way
Your Vote: It’s Important!
By Lois E. Wilson
When one becomes of age, American citizens possess a treasure—the right
to vote. It is a right that was only achieved through the heroic
efforts of those who came before us. Their valor, values, and
intelligence created the constitution for how our country was to be
ruled.
Eugene Volokh of the UCLA School of Law notes: “The United States
exemplifies the varied nature of a constitutional republic—a country
where some decisions (often local) are made by direct democratic
processes, while others (often federal) are made by democratically
elected representatives.”
At different times in our country’s history, its existence has been
challenged. There always have been those who stepped forward to defend
it and the rights we possess.
In a 1944 radio address, Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “Nobody will ever
deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American
people themselves—and the only way they could do that is by not voting.”
“The essence of a republican government is not command. It is consent.” (Adlai Stevenson)
Thomas Jefferson observed: ”I know of no safe depository of the
ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we
think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a
wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to
inform their discretion by
education.”
What are your responsibilities as a voter? Each of us personally
defends it when we exercise our right to vote for local and national
leaders. We should always remember with our voice at election time
through our votes, we are the ultimate rulers of our country.
One should investigate the candidates by listening to them when they
appear on TV or at rallies. It’s good to read their statements on
matters at different times in their careers. Do they have a voting
record? Do they associate with people of like beliefs as you have? Is
their core philosophy on the role of government compatible with yours?
This is our responsibility as a voter. Aristotle wrote: “If liberty and
equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy,
they will best be attained when all persons alike share in the
government to the utmost.”
“Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no
good. ‘Tis but one step more to think that one will do no harm.”
(Emerson) It may be your utmost contribution, but it is an important
one. Vote! It will give you more credibility if and when you complain.
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