by Jeff Quibell
2. June 2010 10:00
John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address said “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” Many paid the ultimate sacrifice, and this past weekend we honored them along with the families of the men and women who serve our country. For the husbands and wives, sons and daughters of our military heroes, every day is Memorial Day.
Living in a country that endows its citizens with many rights, we also have many responsibilities, including the responsibility to participate in the political process of electing those who represent us. We are quickly approaching another election, with the primary in August and the general election in November. As we choose our state and national representatives, the importance of choosing well cannot be overstated.
Many of the candidates seeking office this fall are visiting residents at their homes, walking door to door to meet their future constituents. I hope they are listening to the issues that are important to you and me and will learn to seek opportunities for collaboration for the good of all. With thousands of voters, most candidates use some type of system to determine the most likely voter and visit those homes first. The more consistently you vote, the higher the likelihood your name will be on the list. This process may be frustrating to some people, but consider what it really means. When you do not take the time to vote, not only are you not participating in the selection of your representatives, you are less likely to have the opportunity to express your thoughts about issues you feel are important.
If you are fortunate enough to find a candidate standing on your doorstep, do not squander the opportunity to learn about what they hope to accomplish if elected. Question them about the issues that are important to you. Do not just accept the statements they make in their efforts to convince you to vote for them. Ask questions to learn where they truly stand on the issues. Compare notes with your friends on what you learned about them, review the information on their websites, and contact them if you have more questions. Candidate committees, especially on the state and local levels, are primarily grassroots, volunteer-driven efforts. Contributing your time to a campaign is a wonderful way to learn about our election processes first-hand.
Voting in every election, regardless if it is for a local city council, school district or statewide or national, is a right and a privilege. Do not take it for granted. Get involved and get informed.