Why You Should Vote in the 2008 Primaries

How many of us hear our fellow Americans grumble about the state of the government and what our leaders do, only to watch the same people sit on their sofa watching reality shows instead of getting informed and going to the polls? In defense of my apathetic generation (and possibly the one preceding it,) I must say there seems to be a fatalistic mentality that we have been indoctrinated with that we can't really make a difference. We have so much information thrown at us from every side. How are we to know what is true? How are we to know it even matters?

Every action taken, positive, negative, or neutral, creates a ripple effect. Showing up to do the right thing is a spiritual endeavor, even if the results do not appear to be rewarded at first. "Every vote counts" is a well worn phrase, but if we don't embrace the truth of it, the day may come when we no longer have the option to do so. As Edmund Burke so aptly stated, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

In citing Mr. Burke, I would like to call on those of you who see voting as choosing the lesser of the evils. When the United States was new, there weren't so many professional politicians running the government. George Washington was himself a farmer (as opposed to the majority since being lawyers.) Now we have people running for office who I suspect have nary a clue what a hard day's work is, or what the average citizen contends with on a daily basis. Top politicians are armed with speech writers, lucrative bank accounts, and a lifetime of campaign experience. These things don't necessarily make a person a poor choice for a representative, but they are also not evidence a person will make good decisions on behalf of the people they are supposed to serve. Alas, very few candidates make it to the primaries without being groomed for it, so here we are again. If you feel you must choose between the lesser of the evils, you can at least vote in the primaries for your least favorite party against the person you do not want to see make it to the nationals (the author says this jokingly and does not advise or plan to do this.)

As for those of us who champion the cause of a visionary, may we use caution as well. People who make promises in the heat of televised debate seem to say whatever will win the applause of the audience and the ensuing cast of the ballot. How do we know they will not shift as soon as they take office and get under pressure? How do we know they will have the sway to make good on their word? A nice little background check is often in order for such. For current or former officeholders, there are sites like http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm that show the history of how congressmen, judiciaries, and presidents have voted on issues as they came up in the past. Keep in mind, however, that often a bill is introduced (lottery to raise money for schools, perhaps) and fails to make the powers that be accountable for how it is spent. Sometimes there will be unrelated issues attached, say a farm bill that throws in something about medical malpractice. So it helps to see the documents in their entirety versus what you heard about them on a major broadcasting company or an forwarded email from your best friend. Granted, you could spend a lifetime investigating these documents, so you must pick and choose. But keep an open mind when a representative has voted no (or yes) on a bill that sounds like it would be a good thing. There might have been a fly in the ointment. The hidden agenda is ever lurking.

Beware of celebrity endorsements, brothers and sisters of all color. Whether it's Chuck, Oprah, Madonna, or Bugs Bunny, please think for yourself. And if what you find lines up with your favorite celebrity, great. But their opinion is also subject to change.

Another caveat in checking out your politician is a major swing in platform. If you have someone who took a hard stand on a particular issue in the past and has suddenly recanted, make note and see if the actions match the words consistently over a period of time. Remember this is a person who will be making your decisions for you to some extent. You want someone who will decide the same way you would.

Last, I would like to implore you not to fall prey to the hidden images on the screen. We live in a society that is brainwashed to accept what it sees on TV. Whether you lean left or right, not everything is what it appears. Do your own homework and listen to your gut. And get off your a$$, America! Go vote in the primaries this year. http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president_state_primary_dates.php

The author expressly wishes to apologize to her cousin and all offended lawyers who work long hours in their stressful professions ;)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1207791-2,00.html
http://gethelp.library.upenn.edu/guides/polisci/elections.html#4