I will not go into parties, or platforms, or personalities. I wave a
liberal flag but will not proselytize. I am always ready to debate a
topic, but won't start the discussion. It can be a fine line sometimes,
but you'll see me sitting across from someone who is losing his or her
temper as I just smirk and respond to their points and counter-points.
There is one stand I will take openly though. As time goes on, I
get more adamant about it. Simply put: vote. I don't want to hear
about rigging of elections, or the Electoral College, or any other
defeatist rhetoric. It is simply that defeatist.
First of all, the Electoral College was set up by our Constitution.
It is not going anywhere anytime soon. Waiting until the system is
revised to vote is a sure fire to make certain it never is. If you want
it changed, make it an issue with Congress. There have been over 700
bills presented in Congress to change it. They have never had the
votes.
Second of all, the Electoral College does not just appoint whoever
they choose. Political parties win or lose states and you can guess
that one party isn't going to just let the other carry the state. There
is no federal law requiring electors to vote a certain way. But, 24
states have laws dictating that they must vote with their party and for
everyone else it is political suicide. I am not saying it has never
happened. However, in our 200+ year history over 99% of electors have
voted as dictated by popular vote. There have been 156 "faithless
electors" who have voted for a candidate other than their party's
nomination. There names are listed here: www.fairvote.org/e_college...hless.htm.
That's right. There names will be listed throughout history as party
of a special breed of people that ignored the opinions of the citizens
of their state.
Too many people fought too hard to secure votes for all citizens of
the United States over the age of 18. I will not disgrace their legacy
through apathy. I will not accept any argument that does. If you wish
to let other people run your life, that's fine. That is your choice.
You have every right to make it. But not that is the choice you are
making. You are not standing up for anything. You are lying down. You
are saying that you wish for people like myself to have a major
influence over your life.
There is also the vague idea thrown around that it doesn't matter.
That all politicians are the same. If you really believe that a
decision made today can't influence the next, then you have given up.
If you really think that the elections or John F. Kennedy, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, and George W. Bush did not have an effect on
history and your life specifically, than you are delusional. I
apologize if that seems strong, but that is the correct term for one who
believes something that can not possibly be true.
Would Hubert Humphrey had had an enemies list? Would he have had a
group of people break into the Watergate Hotel to spy on the Democrats?
Would Richard Nixon have misspoke in Berlin and yet brought hope to
millions, would he have been assassinated, would he have given us a
dream, could he have inspired a generation?
Would Herbert Hoover have enacted Social Security, would he have
found a way to provide aid to the British until a fateful day in
December changed the world, would he have commissioned the building of
our infrastructure, would he have helped set the groundwork for what
would become the United Nations?
Finally, do you honestly believe that Al Gore would have brought about the invasion of Iraq?
So, before you say "all politicians are the same" know what that statement encompasses.
Before you say "your vote doesn't count" know what you are giving up.
You can change the world. Believe in yourself. Don't give up your voice. Stand up. Vote.
No comments:
Post a Comment