Except for certain special circumstances, our YR 2018 U.S. general “mid-term” elections will be held on Tuesday, November 6. Each administered by the respective state and local governments, regardless of whether involving federal, state, or local offices. Millions upon millions of dollars will have been spent in relentless truthful and untruthful, as well as lawful and unlawful, efforts to sway our votes in favor of particular candidates.
Through it all, millions of U.S. citizens will do their best to become responsibly informed and do the right thing. As a seemingly ever-growing shameful number of others, will choose to forgo their right to vote for or against those seeking positions of power, influence, and responsibility within our government. A most precious U.S. citizen right protected and preserved by countless past and present, often at ultimate sacrifice. A right yet denied to and sought by untold millions of less fortunate others worldwide.
Those committed to the long-standing search for and use of excuses for “not voting” will likely recognize one or more of the following time-worn examples: forgot to register/vote; bad weather; sick; disabled; inconvenient voting place; ID required; proof of U.S. citizenship required; conflicting schedule; had to work; on travel/vacation; disgusted with politics; no good candidates; all political parties are the same; politics is all about money; corrupt politicians; the one I want is not on the ballot; all that politicians really care about is just getting elected. As well as that age-old standby—“our votes don’t really count anyway.”
On the other hand, those striving to maintain their personal commitment to “responsible voting” may find a much needed booster-shot somewhere within the following crucial priorities: preservation of our—U.S. Constitution, borders, common-language English, common-culture founded on Judeo-Christian values, and our too often taken for granted liberty and freedom. If none of these seem to address one’s “why bother to vote” pondering—how about “the future of our children and grandchildren”. That is, the wellbeing of future generations of Americans, already saddled with an outrageous and rapidly growing $21 Trillion National Debt. The result of many years of greed, corruption, and less than responsible government, left unchecked for too long by “we the people”—the so-called adults in the room.
We can do our best to be informed and active voters, or waist our precious and fragile privilege. We have the opportunity to be a part of our country’s solutions, or its problems. We can focus on the “reasons” for voting, or the “excuses” not to. The “choice” is ours—that is, at least “so far” such remains the case.
—William James Moore
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