“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” –Larry J. Sabato
Well, I guess if you want to get technical it is, “Speak now or hold your peace for the next four years.” It’s election season, ladies and gentleman. Now, I am not going to get wrapped up in a debate on who you should vote for (though I could), but I am going to state the importance that you vote. We are given the opportunity to make our voice heard, and if you give up that right during election season, you have also given up the right for the next four years. I have had many conversations with people who complain about the way our nation is led, and when asked if they voted in the last election they quickly respond no and chuckle at the absurdity of the question. If you so choose to silence yourself for one reason or another, you no longer have the right to complain about who is elected. You surrendered your right. For those who say they are “not into politics” and that is the reason why you don’t want to vote… Do you have no opinion on equal rights, gun control, reproductive rights, foreign policy, health care, immigration, education, social security, the environment? Just to name a few. Politics is not just election season and deciding who is our next president. Politics is how we interact with the world around us. It is how we interact with people at home, it dictates our rights, and allows us to dictate our leader. Politics is so much more than November 8, 2016. For those who say their vote “doesn’t matter” and that is the reason why you don’t want to vote… The voters in the Brexit decision thought their vote didn’t matter either. Then when the verdict was made, people regretted their vote and were shocked to find out that their voice was heard through their vote. Your vote is your voice; I cannot stress that enough. Do not silence yourself. For those who say this election is “choosing between the lesser of two evils” and that is the reason you don’t want to vote…That may be true, but you not voting doesn’t “stick it to the man” or show your aggravation towards the situation. It just silences you. It doesn’t enact change. Change happens because people do things. Not voting is not showing them, it’s just not showing up. You are doing nothing. If nothing else, voting at least gives you the right to complain if you do not agree with the newly elected official. Remember, if you don’t vote, you chose to silence yourself. So, shut up. No complaining from you. Everyone, the right to vote is a privilege whether you believe it or not. It wasn’t just handed to us. Generations of people struggled for this right, and other parts of the world are still fighting for it. So, the fact that you don’t want to take the time to educate yourself on the topics or wait in lines on the day of the polls is not an excuse to not vote. It’s pure laziness. Do not give up your voice. Higher turnout makes our democracy more representative. Show up. Be a part of that representation. In order to vote, you must register. People, registration ends in some states in a matter of days. If you do not register, your voice is gone. Do not silence yourself. Register. Vote. Show up. Speak your mind. Always, Molly
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AuthorJust a twenty-something attempting to create the illusion that I have a clue what's going on... Archives
May 2017
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