‘‘Voting in the U.S.” — a Right, Privilege, or Responsibility?

While, in keeping with applicable eligibility requirements, voting in the U.S. is a constitutional right . . . in practice it also includes elements of privilege and responsibility. And while our U.S. elections involve different types (e.g., general; primary; special; etc.), with each serving a different purpose, all entail outcomes (consequences) that influence the functioning of our ever so precious individual liberty enabling constitutional republic, and hence our safety, security, and other wellbeing.

For example, the Kansas primary election held Tuesday, August 4, 2026, providing we Kansas voters an opportunity to voice our preferences regarding some sales tax measures; a highly debated Kansas proposed constitutional amendment concerning how Kansas Supreme Court Justices are determined; and what candidates will represent each political party in our country’s upcoming “midterm” general election on November 3, 2026; etc. A Kansas primary election of which, and pending later availability of finalized data, our local newspaper, the Parsons Sun, responsibly reported some very informative “Unofficial primary results announced in Labette and Neosho Counties.” Such as, but not limited to the following “Voter Breakdown”:

“In Labette County, there are 13,696 registered voters: 2,596 are registered as Democratic; 4,778 are nonpartisan; and 6,322 are Republican. In total, 27.39% of voters participated in Tuesday’s (August 4, 2026) primary: 38.91% Democratic; 5.11% nonpartisan; and 39.50% Republican. There were 3,751 ballots cast across the county.” In other words . . . about 9,945 (72.61%) of the 13,696 registered voters in Labette County chose NOT to vote, and as a result, let the election outcome be determined by the 3,751 (27.39%) who did! As did also all the other “potentially eligible to vote” Labette County residents who for some reason haven’t yet registered to vote.

“In Neosho County, there are 11,069 registered voters: 1,727 Democratic; 3,567 nonpartisan; and 5,775 Republican. In total, 28.06% of voters participated in Tuesday’s (August 4, 2026) primary: 37.41% were Democratic; 5.75% were nonpartisan; and 39.05% were Republican. There were 3,106 ballots cast across the county.” In other words . . . about 7,963 (71.94%) of the 11,069 registered voters in Neosho County chose NOT to vote, and as a result, let the election outcome be determined by the 3,106 (28.06%) who did! As did also all the other “potentially eligible to vote” Neosho County residents who for some reason haven’t yet registered to vote.

And while these particular voter participation rates are of course far less than encouraging, unfortunately such are not a far departure from that of many other counties in Kansas and other areas throughout our ever so challenged country. As in turn, how we Kansas voters and others nationwide have been doing in our nation’s “federal” elections also falls terribly short of being at all greatly uplifting. For example, the following turnout rates of eligible voters in Kansas and as compared to overall eligible voters nationwide in recent “federal election” years 2018 to 2024: 2018 (Kansas 51.1%--Overall U.S. 50.0); 2020 (Kansas 65.7%—Overall U.S. 66.6%); 2022 (Kansas 47.6%--Overall U.S. 46.2%); 2024 (Kansas 63.2%--Overall U.S. 63.9%).

Unfortunately, history attests that some among “We the People” will likely continue to ignore their voting rights, privileges, and responsibilities . . . as many millions of others will do their best to be responsibly informed voters in our country’s various local, state, and federal elections! Nevertheless, and regardless of degree of voter participation, all elections will continue to have “outcomes” (i.e., constructive or destructive “consequences”). Yes, “consequences” that ultimately determine and/or otherwise influence the crucial functioning of our ever so precious individual liberty enabling constitutional republic, and hence our safety, security, and other wellbeing.

And while many elections have rendered a considerable number of constructive outcomes, it would be irresponsible to not herein make due mention of an especially profound “destructive outcome” . . . “our” ever-growing and out-of-control U.S. National Debt! A truly tragic “consequence” of years upon years of voter-approved and/or otherwise voter tolerated reckless government spending. A U.S. National Debt that, as of this writing, now exceeds $39 Trillion (i.e., over $115,000 per U.S. Citizen, or beyond $359,000 per U.S. Taxpayer)! With yearly interest on said debt now exceeding $1 Trillion! A very much unsustainable obligation that for the first time since World War II now exceeds the entire size of our U.S. economy. And unlike the wartime borrowing of the 1940s, today's debt wasn't built to defeat fascism or protect our republic, but rather is the result of decades of bipartisan fiscal negligence, runaway spending, and a stubborn refusal of “We the People” and our elected government representatives to make hard choices. A most shameful and self-destructive legacy that we so-called adults in the room (past and present) keep passing on to future generations of Americans.

Yes, as year after year untold billions of dollars continue to be spent in our U.S. elections, with varying intentions by those in some manner seeking power and influence throughout the many functions of our government . . . “We the People” (at least “thus far”) are blessed, by way of U.S. Constitution mandate, with the opportunity to crucially influence, by way of our votes, the status of our (and our country’s) safety, security, and otherwise wellbeing! A profound privilege we must never disregard or disrespect, with responsibilities we must never fail to do our best to fulfill. While being ever conscious of the inescapable fact that all elections have “outcomes” . . . that is, “consequences” warranting our due attention to the lessons of history and reality-founded, potentially prophetic cautions, such as: “I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared . . . To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt . . . We must make our choice between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude . . .” —Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President; “Liberty dies when we choose comfort over courage” —Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice U.S. Supreme Court; and “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” —Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President. 

                          —William James Moore Parsons     08/10/2026.