OPINION: Your country needs your vote
The world has historically looked to the United States as the proverbial Northern Star, the bellwether for the rest of the world, as our leaders are representative of the people.
Our ability to vote as a citizen of the United States is a right which is revered, and for many in the world viewed with envy.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed
Declaration of Independence, In Congress, July 4, 1776
Our Declaration of Independence makes clear the intent of the Founders of our republic for those in government to enjoy their seat and “powers from the consent of the governed.”
The consent we give is embodied in our ballot. It is with this ballot we give voice to our desired form of leadership, direction and hope.
Call to action
Vote today. Many states, including my own Washington, require ballots postmarked by 03 November or in the ballot box by 8 p.m. to be counted. It behooves you to know your state’s rules and regulations re your ballot.
Vote for the candidate(s) who are most representative of your ideals and aspirations for our country. I’ve never been a democrat or republican, and have never blindly voted a straight ticket – I’ve always followed my own advice and voted for those who I believe will do the best job for me, my family, my community and my country.
Your vote is your voice
In the United States no citizen is compelled to vote and in the 2016 Presidential Election more than 40 percent (40%) of registered voters opted out and in so doing allowed their fellow citizens who did vote to decide the leadership and direction which the United States would take for the next four years.
As of this morning, the Election Project, tells us that more than 66,000,000 (66 million) votes have been cast and are in the proverbial bank. This number is phenomenally large. This also tells us that more than two-thirds of the nation’s registered voters have not yet voted.
Turn on any news channel and you will see individuals waiting in lines, sometimes long lines which require hours of patience to exercise their vote and make their voice heard.
Those long lines are created by natural causes, i.e. the surge of voters converging on a limited number of voting and ballot drop-off locations. In some locales, however it is by design.
Take for example Texas, where each county is allowed only one ballot drop off location by decree from the Governor. The population of Harris County, Texas is greater than 4 million and they have one location to drop off their vote. The governor of Texas has taken the in-your-face tactic designed to depress and suppress the voice of his constituents.
It is for this reason I urge you to drop off your ballot in person or make your way to the polling station and vote in person. If you must vote-by-mail, today is your day.
Please vote today.
