By Albert B. Kelly
I have always been of the mind that a difference is made by those who show up. Whether it’s in an organization, a program, projects, in business, education or in the case of tomorrow (Tuesday November 5th) at the polls. Showing up is half the battle. If you know me, than you know I can go on about the wonders of Election Day and our system of government.
So I am strongly encouraging everyone to do their part on Election Day and go to the polls and vote tomorrow. Regardless of your brand of politics or which candidate you support, the larger issue is the fact that our system works best when we have maximum participation. Also, I am of the mind that our complaints are somewhat insincere if we haven’t even bothered to participate in the process.
I say that knowing that many people believe that voting doesn’t matter; that the fix is in and the game is rigged, so why bother at all. I’ve also heard some people express the idea that all elected officials and politicians are crooks and one is no better than another…so why bother taking a few minutes to vote.
I understand the sentiment, but to quote Winston Churchill; “…Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried”. Simply put, it’s what we have and whether you show up or not, decisions are still going to be made, things are going to happen, and you will be impacted by those decisions; so why not get a little more engaged and cast your vote for the individual you think will speak to your issues and concerns?
But aside from any other reason, voting and the right to participate in the process is something that brave men and woman have died defending; it’s at the core of why America was born and why; despite all of our faults and flaws, we are the envy of much of the world. So yes, it is a right…but it’s also a privilege and by casting your vote on Election Day, you are not just supporting a particular candidate or program, you are in your small way, strengthening the foundations of “community” and the country as a whole.
There are many reasons people go to the polls and vote on Election Day; sometimes they are voting for a specific person and at other times they are voting against someone. They may be voting for an ideal or against a set of principles. Regardless of motivations, it’s critically important that people participate because the idea of “by the people” is under assault in many places today. If you have children or grandchildren and you can take them with you when you vote, I think that’s a good thing because they get to see your example and it will encourage them to participate when they’re old enough, they’ll know what it is.
I’ve often heard from a variety of different groups that they feel marginalized in our society; left out of the national debate. To them I would only say that if you don’t show up, it’s then easy for those who actually do- to leave you out of the conversation and disregard those issues and concerns that are important to you.
This year of course, there will be the various candidates for the different offices; these include local offices such as Freeholder, but they also include state legislative seats and this year, governor. I recognize that it’s not as exciting as a Presidential election year, but the elected officials in these various offices have a huge impact on what gets done and what gets pushed down to the bottom of the list.
Beyond any seats to be filled, there are also ballot measures, public questions that only you as a voter get to answer. This year, the two questions focus on increasing the minimum wage to $8.25 per hour with yearly adjustments for inflation and allowing veterans’ organizations to use money from existing games of chance to support their organizations. Both proposals will affect peoples’ lives and there are arguments being made for and against each; but the fact remains that there will be an impact on all of us so we get to say yes or no and that’s no small thing.
So, you may be for or against a particular measure or candidate, but the important thing is to show up, make your voice heard through your vote, and strengthen our democracy and our way of life through your participation. Tomorrow is Election Day. It is one exchange in our local and national conversation, but that conversation is best had when everyone is at the table. A difference is made by those who show up.