AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s your right to vote. Use it!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’ve hit the first week of November, the traditional time for elections, and there’s a Sandy Springs issue to be settled. It’s a special election to fill a vacated seat on the city council.
I only bring this up because I’m guessing few of you folks reading this are aware:
a) The first Tuesday of November is annually election day b) That there is a local issue to be decided c) Who the candidates are and where they stand
And that should bother all of us. Maybe even scare us.
At the age of 18 we get the right to vote, but we should also understand it is a privilege to get to vote. You don’t have to pass a test or pay a fee or know somebody on the inside to be able to vote.
You just have to register. Fill out a short form and you, too, can be part of this great democracy. Unfortunately, that’s more effort than a lot of us are willing to invest. I mean what with the new season of TV shows, cruising the Internet for celebrity gossip and navigating the mall - who the heck has time to invest in citizen participation?
And even most of those registered to vote can’t muster the time and energy to actually go cast that vote. And of those who might vote, if election day weather is too extreme, they’re likely to pass.
These are the same folks who scream the loudest when something doesn’t go their way and wonder why those in elected office aren’t doing more for them. I know this might be a radical thought, but can someone who holds an elected position do anything for someone who didn’t participate in the elective process.
Here’s an intemperate thought - if you can’t prove you voted in the last city election, you don’t get to complain about anything. We’ll put in some special seating at all public meetings for you to sit and listen - but no vote, no voice.
Want to speak your mind? Show up with your slip from the most recent election. Call it your license to whine.
Back in the ’60s we were told if we weren’t part of the solution, we were part of the problem. Well, I have seen the problem and the problem is us.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Jim Osterman
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By Judy
November 5, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
www.blackboxvoting.org
Electronic voting is able to be rigged. The system is broken. It’s past the time voting did any good. Time for a overhaul of the “system.”
Oh, and if I want to complain about it, all I have to do is whip out my property tax statement. When I pay almost $3000 a year to live on the land I own, then I can complain all I want.
By getalife
November 5, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
Why vote, it’s obvious that money rules the voting system, otherwise it would be more open. It is all our fault we have let the government ruin us.
By Barbara
November 5, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
Always an excuse, isn’t it?
By blah
November 5, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this
Election day is the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. (Which does not always happen to the the first Tuesday - sometimes it’s the second).
By WTF?
November 5, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
The system is definitely flawed, for sure.
But my ancestors died to get me a chance to vote. So I will cast my vote every Election Day & hope that democracy prevails.
I always tell people, if you don’t vote you have no right to complain. I know some people who haven’t been able to complain for me since Bush stole his first election.
By Tray
November 5, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
I can complain all i want to if i don’t vote…what if none of the people running are good (ie:Bush vs. Kerry-i didn’t vote because they both sucked-i can complain either way)!
And i think Judy is right, as well. I pay taxes, i can voice my opinion about anything i want. Illegals pay no taxes, nothing into Social Security, so i don’t care about their rights-after all, you have to be a U.S. citizen to have rights in the U.S. (which will change soon anyways once we sell this country to the minorities).
When someone worth voting for runs, I’ll vote.
By Leigh
November 5, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
With more cities and counties having “early elections” aka absentee voting there is no excuse for not taking 10 or 15 minutes to vote.
I voted last Friday, along with my parents, my 20 year old son and my husband. We took one vehicle and made it a family affair. With drive time it took us all of 25 minutes start to finish.
Those of you that think voting is a waste of time because of money ruling the outcome or the computerized machines being rigged think of it this way, with low voter turn out the system can become more corrupted but if we all take the time it becomes much harder for the corruption to take place because it will be harder to hide the fact.
It is much easier for us to have a say in local government than the federal government and if we all become active on a local level then we have a chance to change things on a much broader level.
By Eric
November 5, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
Paying taxes gives you no right to complain about those taxes - If everyone had exercised the right to vote the people responsible for raising taxes might not be in office. Most of the times you actually get to vote on tax increases. So, by not voting you cannot complain.
Tray - the presidential election is not the only thing you vote on. The president has nothing to do with your property taxes, sales taxes, state income taxes.
By Nan
November 5, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
Ever notice how the folks who whine the most always have an excuse for why they’re not willing to do anything to fix the things they b*** about?
And, slightly off topic but in response to the comment on illegals, if someone is working using fake ID that the employer accepted as real, and if the employer is complying with laws regarding withholding income taxes, then that person is paying taxes and social security — he or she will just not ever get anything back. (People working under the table for cash are a different story, of course, but plenty of legal citizens work off the books, too. Illegals don’t have a monopoly on gray market jobs.)
By Jj
November 5, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
I’m with WTF?? I have the priviledge to vote, and I shall exercise it in every election.
And yes sometimes there are the Bush/Kerry elections, but I have to vote one way, in order to knock out someone else’s vote.
In the next presidential voting, I will vote AGAINST Hillary, just to cancel out a vote FOR Hillary.
As of right now, I wouldn’t vote for ANY ONE who is currently running for president.
By ron
November 5, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Bad officials are elected by good citezens who do not vote. Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do vote.
By fk
November 5, 2007 6:12 PM | Link to this
A neighbor once told me she did not vote b/c that is where the county gets its juror list. She did not want to have to haul herself downtown Atl to serve for jury duty. Really, how often do you get called to serve? I’ve received three jury duty summons in 17 years, but had to go only twice. If that’s really the case, the county should go off of drivers licenses.
By Raker of Muck
November 6, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
The meatheads who actually run for office WANT voter apathy, both sides of the aisle. With voter apathy comes apathy for their records and how OUR government operates. This applies all the way up and down the structure of elected representatives, from the President all the way down to the dog catcher.
What would change this is massive voter turn out and holding the elected officials feet to the fire. If we had a 70% turnout for every election and wrote/called representatives on a regular basis to air your opinions the officials will know they are being watched and will respon accordingly. Complaining about the process or spouting fatalistic viewpoints are the worst kind of apathy you can have.
VOTE. Voice your opinions to your representatives and when someone says their vote doesn’t matter or that they don’t want to be called for jury duty, remind them of their civic duty. If we wish to maintain our society we MUST exercise the basis responsibilities we as citizens are given to ensure our society exists.
By mark
November 7, 2007 12:03 AM | Link to this
Hey Jim,
Seems you should actually know what you are talking about before posting. There is no “right” to vote. The 15th,19th and 26th amendments prohibit discrimination in voting based on age(over 18), race and gender but that doesnt create a voting right. As recently as 2000, the Supreme Court reaffirmed this in Alexander v Mineta, where stating there is no citizen right to vote, voting is just for “qualified” citizens. Those “qualifications” are set by state governments, subject to change all of the time. If you disbelief what I am saying, how could the state legislature mandate a voter ID law? They couldnt if this constitutional right you presuppose is there was there.