As the general election occurs today, I have text everyone in my phone & called family members to vote. I understand that the many facebook statuses, twitter updates, texts, etc about voting can be annoying, but let's be practical: How often do you get mass messages & the same message from everyone?
While you may be one of these people tired of the message, someone else hasn't received it yet, someone else has decided they won't vote, and it is because of every one's persistence in spreading the Go Vote message that people have actually been guilted, persuaded, and coerced into exercising that right which was denied to African Americans and women not so many years ago.
So, if you are one of those people who have decided not to vote or think your vote doesn't matter, I say this to you: Don't Be Ignorant!
Your vote is your active participation in a process that is as important as brushing your teeth daily, eating, and drinking water for the health of your body. Voting is the action you take to show you care about the future of your taxes, your money, your child's education, the laws that will govern your life, and so many other things.
Please don't be ignorant to the fact that the people voted into office at the national, state, and especially local level have a lot of power in their decision making that govern our every day lives!!!!
I encourage you to not only vote because that is a easy step, but to be an informed voter. Don't take what you hear likely, do your research. We are in a advanced technological age where you have no excuse for why you didn't know something besides pure laziness and the failure to use your fingertips and the Internet.
Information is at the tip of our hands, so another thing I encourage you to do is to not only be an Informed Voter & actually go VOTE, BUT be active in the entire process from this day forth. Not just when elections come around, but all year round. Decisions are being made at these local Board meetings, during State hearings & committee meetings, and so forth. All of which you have access to. You have access to them. So, please don't be ignorant and vote without being informed, or don't vote, or think that voting was all you had to do to play your part in the process.
It's not!!!! A Democracy is successful when the people continually engage the process and tell their representatives what they want and don't want. How laws that are being proposed will really affect the people. Talking and arguing amongst your friends or cursing under your breath at the television doesn't help. Write an original letter because some, not all, but some politicians really do read their constituents letters and address their concerns. You, the constituent, are the BOSS. Exercise your power and right.
Just don't be ignorant... Too many people have fought, suffered, and died for this right that we now can exercise without the same barriers that once existed.
If you can't vote, I really don't think you have a right to even complain about anything. Just the same as if you don't put up money to pay for a group of people to see a movie, how dare you think you can add your two cents about what movie to see when the group decides on a movie you don't like.
Be informed, exercise your right to vote, & be engaged in the process after and before any Primary & General Election.
No comments:
Post a Comment