For those of you who aren’t too interested politics, I’m sorry, but I do have to say that elections are just about here, and soon I won’t have any Measure 84’s to write about or rants on why I think certain things on the ballot this year are very important to me and my family. But I have to say that just one more time I’m going to blog about voting.
I recently heard a story that one of my relatives was in a college class and her professor told them that if they didn’t know what the issues were this year, to not vote. I heard this story a few days ago and it still gets m very worked up, for many reasons!
First of all, I”m pretty sure that same teacher, if they was giving an exam to their class wouldn’t say, “Well if you don’t know the material, don’t bother with the exam, it doesn’t matter anyway.” The reality is that they would tell them to study for the exam, to take the time and be diligent, to strive to understand the material so that they could be successful in the exam. The part that is so ironic, is that by voting you can actually make a a huge difference, probably much more of a difference than one exam would make in a college student’s life to come.
Secondly, I don’t think it’s fair to tell people to be lazy and just not bother voting! I was watching a CBS evening newscast tonight about students in China. They are following the US elections very closely, and most of them said because it’s so interesting for them to watch such a transparent election. In China their elections are done from only the communist party and with secret ballots, zero transparency. One said that hopefully someday they will get to vote, but that it’s going to take a very, very long time.
People have worked for a very long time to allow us this right, so why do people shy away or get lazy about it? Many times I hear that they don’t feel like it makes a difference, with the electoral college system, the state will vote for who they vote for, individuals don’t matter. And there is some truth to that, but the stronger truth is that local issues, state or even county issues, they will effect you. Or at least they will effect businesses and companies that operate around you, resources that you depend on, things that make our state great, that you also get to vote on!! It’s not just about Mitt or Obama my friends, voting is so much more than that!
I’m very proud of my cousin, she ended up voting and doing her due diligence! So yes go out and vote! Don’t just say that you don’t know the issues and use that as an excuse to be lazy about it. Read your voters pamphlet, ask questions from people who you know that might know more on the issues than you, don’t just do nothing!! The students in China would love to be where we are today, voting freely, getting our voice to be heard. So you Professor, who tells students that they shouldn’t vote for the first time if they don’t know the issues, shame on you! I would suggest a very pertinent class time where you could go over the issues, both sides, and encourage your students to have an active role in their society, starting with voting day!
NuttyGrass 
If it were against the law to LIE in political ads and on certain TV networks (think small red animal), I would agree that everyone should vote. But for those that aren’t able or willing to decipher the bull, I think it’s ok that they aren’t voting.
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I agree that there are ads that aren’t telling the whole truth many times. But that is why I think people should read the voters pamphlet, and do their research, even if its just talking to people from both sides! My main point is don’t take the easy and lazy way out and say you don’t know the issues so you aren’t going to vote. Hold yourself accountable! Thanks for your comment!!!
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