I sit and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and upon all
oppression and shame;
I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men, at anguish with
themselves, remorseful after deeds done;
I see, in low life, the mother misused by her children, dying,
neglected, gaunt, desperate;
I see the wife misused by her husband–I see the treacherous seducer
of young women;
I mark the ranklings of jealousy and unrequited love, attempted to be
hid–I see these sights on the earth;
I see the workings of battle, pestilence, tyranny–I see martyrs and
prisoners;
I observe a famine at sea–I observe the sailors casting lots who
shall be kill’d, to preserve the lives of the rest;
I observe the slights and degradations cast by arrogant persons upon
laborers, the poor, and upon negroes, and the like;
All these–All the meanness and agony without end, I sitting, look
out upon,
See, hear, and am silent.

-Walt Whitman’s “I Sit and Look Out”

“Why vote?”

Why not?

The consequences of not voting have a more certain and negative impact on your life, and the lives of all members of your community.

Culture is becoming more and more geared toward being catered to in a way that suits its multitasking/short attention span/need for instant gratification ways.

Democracy, however,  hasn’t changed.

When the Founding Fathers put up a framework for how this newly-formed country, the United States of America, would be run, they all agreed that it would be a government that represented its people, chosen by its people.

We are far removed from those mythical days when giants like Jefferson, Adams and Franklin walked the streets alongside their fellow Americans, seldom recognized if outside of familiar areas. We are also numbed to the necessity — almost convinced of the frivolity — of reading about candidates, bills and measures for our own good. We’re more likely to join in the crowd that labels candidates, politicians and issues with broad-brush terms like “liberal,” “conservative,” “capitalist,” “socialist,” or “crazy” and leave it at that.

But democracy demands more than that. It is a process that is based on the presumption that members of a community want to determine the course of their community by accord; that everyone wants their voice heard and considered in important decision making that affects all.

Recently a crowd has emerged with a more dangerous slogan than any party could concoct: “All politicians are essentially the same, therefore I’m not playing their game: I’m not going to vote.”

Cynicism and apathy can kill. The claim that “all politicians are the same” has merit only in the literal sense. However, an election is an occasion where the public CHOOSES who will fill a position based on THEIR VOTES. The same goes for bills and propositions on the ballot. VOTERS make the decision, not some corporate conspiracy, strong armed militia, or super-secret elite.  Politicians are people too. They have such faith in the power of the vote that they stake their reputation and careers on it!

To choose to not vote, even as a demonstration of one’s frustration with the status quo, gives more power to the folk that bother to do their duty and cast their vote. It is a method of becoming an un-person or un-citizen. It’s exactly in opposition of the basis of this country.

For a world where virtually everyone has the Internet at their fingertips, and quick access to public records, biographical information and commentary, and even the text of bills that have been voted on or are pending, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for a person touched by the crises in education, healthcare, housing, or finance to not take some of their time normally dedicated to social media, TV and shopping, and find a means of self-education, so that they can ACT IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS by VOTING with confidence.

At the end of the third Presidential debate, Bob Schieffer of CBS News put it best:

“As my mother used to tell me, ‘Go out and vote; It makes you feel big and strong.’”

Exert control over your future and cast your ballot. It’s your right, it’s your duty, and it’s our future. Voting is a promise made to your community. That community counts on everyone to vote in every election so it can thrive. It’s safe to say that, had everyone kept this promise throughout our country’s history, we would not be facing our current, dire circumstances.

Keep your promise and vote your conscience Nov. 6th!