Miscellaneous

Random Thoughts from Experience – The Right to Vote vs The Choice to Vote

July 20, 2010 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

From the age 18 to 21, I often fantasized about living in Kentucky. I felt that those my age who lived in Kentucky were entitled to the greatest gift imaginable. In Kentucky, when you celebrated your 18th birthday, you could register to vote. Of course, to the best of my understanding, all states now allow voting at age 18. My point is, that those many years ago, I considered the right to vote to be extremely valuable. Today I am not so sure that many people do.

It seems to me that on most people’s 18th birthday they do make plans to register to vote. A smaller number actually do register. It is a simple process. But then the difficult part starts, and even fewer actually go to the polls to cast their vote. All of this is just what I said at the beginning, “the way it seems to me.” The next part is fact. The highest percentage of registered voters to actually vote is in the Presidential election. A smaller percentage vote in State elections. An even smaller percentage vote in local elections. What a sad commentary this is, primarily because a voter has the most influence on the elected candidates in the reverse order.

How many registered voters can pick up their phone and call the President to tell him how they feel about pending legislation? It is quite easy to call an Alderman, Councilman, Commissioner, or even the Mayor. And if several others call one of them, a change in their vote on an issue is more likely. Some might say that they can e-mail the President. But how many of those actually get a response from the President. Maybe an intern might send you a message telling you what the President thinks about your concern. Do you really believe the President even hears about your message? Lobbyist has become a dirty word in some people’s minds, but every American citizen should be a lobbyist. Starting with local officials and moving up to the President, more and more constituents are needed to influence the elected official. Locally, only one may be needed.

I am in the process of reading one of the most significant books in American history, The Federalist Letters. It was written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Hamilton and Madison were members of the Constitutional Convention. Jay was not, but was one of the principal negotiators of the Treaty of Paris and became Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Confederation. He became the first Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court and later the Governor of New York. Hamilton had been a close adviser of George Washington during the Revolutionary War and became the first U. S. Secretary of the Treasury. James Madison was recognized as the “Father” of the Constitution, and became the fourth President of the United States.

The Federalist Letters break down and explained the reasoning of the men who composed our Constitution. They encouraged ratification of the Constitution by the 13 states. Throughout these letters, a common theme is evident, that the people should not be submissive to the government, but rather, the government is to be submissive to the people. They clearly assert that all just powers derive from the consent of the governed. Those who cast votes are, in fact, forming the government that is to serve them. This is true at all levels, Federal, State, County, and Municipal.

During the election of November 2008, almost 80% of the registered voters of Middle Tennessee cast ballots. If history repeats itself, and it usually does, less than 50% will vote in the upcoming election of our new Governor. We will also be electing Congressmen and many County officials. Many have said that the election of November 2010 will be the most important election of our lifetime. I believe that. I was not alive during the Great Depression. We are now living in a time of the greatest economic problems since that Great Depression. We need to insure that our Congressmen reflect our values and bring the national spending under control. Our State has recently survived on the “free Federal stimulus money” that has been ballooning our national debt to unimaginable totals. In 2011, those Federal stimulus funds will cease. Our State, Counties, and local governments will be faced with monumental financial responsibilities.

Unless, we the people, for whom our government is to be responsible, meet each candidate, support the best ones in every way possible, and vote in the next elections (both primary and general) we may wind up with an even worse problem than we have now. Make the time to attend meet and greet gatherings, welcome candidates into your home or subdivision community rooms, watch the debates on TV, talk with neighbors who have met the candidates, try to personally meet and talk with as many candidates as possible, call or e-mail with your questions or concerns to the candidates. Don’t be caught at the polls voting for someone you know nothing about. Please prepare yourself to choose to exercise your right to vote. You owe it to yourself and to the next generation of Americans. We are “One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all,” only if we each do our part.

By Charlie Schoenbrodt

You can listen to Charlie and his guests on radio station WMRB AM, 910 the Duck every Tuesday afternoon from 4 to 5 PM. Anyone interested in being a guest on ‘Spring Hill on the Rise” should contact Charlie. Suggestions and comments are always welcomed.