Voting--a Privilege and a Responsibility
Every time we have an election, well-meaning citizens urge people to vote. The message heard in every campaign is "Get out and vote!" The idea behind these efforts is that the more people we can get to vote, the better off our community is. And I cringe.
Think about it. If people want to vote, they will do so without being asked. They will educate themselves about the candidates during the campaign and vote for those they feel will do the best job for the people. This is the way democracy is supposed to work. But if people have to be urged to vote just because they can, will they vote responsibly? And if they don't, what effect will this have on our country? Will they take the trouble to study the candidates and issues or just check off a name because they like the sound of it, or what the person looks like, or because they see lots of ads for that person?
They can vote for an incumbent because they like the way things are or for a political party representative because they approve that party's conservative or liberal stands on important issues. But even here they cannot vote responsibly unless they are aware of what the incumbent has been doing and what the party stands for in this community at this point in time. Here again, those persons who do so are likely to vote without being urged.
So, urge people to vote if you wish, but if you do so, ask them to vote responsibly. An uneducated vote can be worse than no vote at all.
Hoping and praying for good God-fearing politicians,
Margaret
Think about it. If people want to vote, they will do so without being asked. They will educate themselves about the candidates during the campaign and vote for those they feel will do the best job for the people. This is the way democracy is supposed to work. But if people have to be urged to vote just because they can, will they vote responsibly? And if they don't, what effect will this have on our country? Will they take the trouble to study the candidates and issues or just check off a name because they like the sound of it, or what the person looks like, or because they see lots of ads for that person?
They can vote for an incumbent because they like the way things are or for a political party representative because they approve that party's conservative or liberal stands on important issues. But even here they cannot vote responsibly unless they are aware of what the incumbent has been doing and what the party stands for in this community at this point in time. Here again, those persons who do so are likely to vote without being urged.
So, urge people to vote if you wish, but if you do so, ask them to vote responsibly. An uneducated vote can be worse than no vote at all.
Hoping and praying for good God-fearing politicians,
Margaret
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