As responsibly reported by the Parsons Sun’s July 7, 2022 edition and elsewhere, the Kansas Labette County Primary Election will be held August 2, 2022. And in spite of overwhelming past and present evidence that elections “do have consequences,” history much more than suggests that responsible voter turnout will likely again be most apathetic.
Yes, history such as the approximate 33 percent of “eligible” U.S. citizens who reportedly chose not to vote in our nation’s 2020 general elections. Or, a little closer to home: (1.) those among our city of Parsons population of “about” 9,400 or so, who chose to let a total of some 1,074 (771 Yes; 303 No) voters decide the fate of a sales tax issue during a November 2021 election; and (2.) the some 3,071 (68 percent) of the reported 4,506 eligible voters in the 2nd Commission District of Labette County, who chose to let some 1,435 (844 Yes; 591 No) voters determine the outcome of a December 7, 2021 Recall Election. These of course being but a few from a shameful many of nationwide examples of voter-apathy.
Of course the consequences of our elections are certainly not alone influenced by the level of turnout. But also by the extent of factually informed and otherwise rational behavior entailed in (or absent from) votes that are cast; overall integrity of our elections processes; and ultimate aims and performance of persons elected; etc.
Hence, throughout our life journey and regardless of what we Americans choose to do with our right to vote, it would seem especially noteworthy that the first three words of our U.S. Constitution read — “We the People.” Such being a not to be forgotten or marginalized affirmation that our constitutional republic was designed and established to serve its citizens. And a further validation that it is by way of our elections processes that “We the People” not only voice and duly administer—but also protect and preserve—our U.S. Constitution declared Sovereignty. “Not” sovereignty over “the” government” . . . but rather sovereignty over “our” government!
And, just in case our U.S. Constitution established aims of our government should ever escape our ever-more-distracted and otherwise increasingly challenged minds—the following “first 52 words” (i.e., Preamble) of said Constitution offer us a crucial memory-jog: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Truly consequential “life and liberty sustaining” aims . . . too often compromised or otherwise threatened, however, by humankind’s age old shortfalls of ignorance, apathy, complacency, denial, greed, and counter-productive fear.
—William James Moore
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[The above was also included in the Public Mind section on page 4 of the Parsons Sun’s Weekend, Saturday-Sunday, July 23-24, 2022 Edition.]
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