A LOT of time to think about the importance of voting.
First of all, yes, I do go door-to-door. I do it because I believe in the candidates, I believe it's important for them to be "heard" [read], and most of all, I believe it's important for YOU...the voter...to be informed. Although I am carefully checking a list, to get the literature to the correct house, I actually hope that--occasionally--I leave the material at the "wrong" house. I hope I leave it, and someone takes the time to read it, to absorb what the candidate is saying, and to decide if they agree with the candidate or not. They will be a more informed voter...if they vote...
Which brings me to the main point.
You have to vote.
Yes, you HAVE TO VOTE.
It is your right as a citizen of this country, and it is a responsibility. YOU vote because so many cannot. YOU vote because your children, or your friend's children, cannot. They do not have a voice in government, but YOU do. YOU vote because those imprisoned cannot. YOU vote because there are so many others who cannot--those with special needs, those with mental challenges, those who are immigrants (but not yet citizens). YOU VOTE for them. YOU VOTE for those who are not allowed to vote--there are thousands who will be turned away from voting this year because their ID is not valid, or politicians had made it impossible.
You VOTE.
You vote because your foremothers were not allowed to, because they were only women. You vote because your ancestors were not allowed to, because they were not white, male, landowners. You vote because all of our ancestors fought so hard for us to be allowed to vote--some of them fighting and dying without having ever been given the opportunity to vote. They did it for YOU...
You vote because every vote counts, and each one of us is allowed one vote. You are just as important in that voting booth as Barack Obama, John McCain, and Ann Coulter. It's the one time for your "voice" to be heard--it's your one chance to vote for someone to do the right thing for you and your family, to be your advocate in our governmental system. If you have $1 in your pocket, or $1 million, it doesn't matter when you make those selections, each vote counts equally.
You vote because every single government office is important. Not just the president. I would argue that you, and your family, will be far more affected by the actions of your local school board member or city council member than you ever will be by the actions of the president. I know, because I was a school board member, and the decisions we made still have an impact today (How do you like those teachers? Those textbooks?).
So Tuesday, go vote. To get to your voting station, I imagine you will walk down sidewalks, drive down streets, obey traffic signals, pass the local farm, school, park, market, LIBRARY, or retirement home. Every single one of these things is impacted by government. The people you elect keep our water, streets, homes, food supply, children--safe. That's their job. And you put them there.
Because YOU. YOU VOTE.
