tonymcewing's Blog

Trust me, I've heard all the excuses why people don't vote. Everything from: my vote doesn't matter, everyone is corrupt anyway, big business runs the everything, there's no real difference between the candidates. I actually used to make some of the same excuses years ago before I became fully aware how many people had literally given their lives so that I could have the right to have a say in how things are done in my neighborhood, my city, my county, my district, my state and my country. Now, I vote in every election no matter how insignificant it might seem, although it seems fewer and fewer people share my point of view.

Without getting into any boring statistics, suffice it to say voter turnout for most elections is abysmal, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. That's unfortunate on a number of levels. Our form of government depends in large part on an informed electorate that actually participates in the process. I know elections have increasingly become big business, especially the major ones, with billions of dollars being raised and contributed to determine who ends up staying in the race and who ultimately gets your vote. Of course serious election reforms are needed; and I understand getting elected officials to support such changes is a lot like asking a bunch of foxes to enact legislation making it more difficult to raid the chicken coop. But that still does not relieve us of our responsibility to vote. Ours is not a perfect system and this is far from a perfect country, but as far as I'm concerned, it's the best thing going on the planet, and as feeble as my one vote might seem to others, I intend to cast it whenever I can. It does matter.

If you don't think so, talk to Janet Nguyen. For those of you who haven't heard of her, she's the newest member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, the first Vietnamese-American and the youngest person to sit on that board. Out of some 45,000 votes cast, Nguyen emerged the winner by a whopping three votes! THREE votes! And while I don't have any stats from the Orange County Registrar's office, I'd be willing to bet that there were a significant number of people who didn't bother to take part in this historic election. Think about it for a second. Had four more people voted for Nguyen's opponent, the election would have had a completely different outcome. And that could have a huge impact on the laws, regulations, and codes passed by the board, which will effect the lives of those who voted and those who did not as well. Who sits on that board, on any board or council, state seat, Congress or in the Oval office can determine how much you pay for everything from a pack of gum to a gallon of gas, from your rent to your mortgage. It can decide how long you wait to get that pothole filled that has cost you hundreds of dollars in repair bills for your car, or how much you pay to park that car or where you can park it. Or much, much more importantly, whether you can afford health insurance or whether we're at war, with whom and for what purpose.

It is well worth taking the time to get to know who and what are on the ballot, then exercising your right, your duty to vote. It does matter. What doesn't matter so much, at least to me, are the opinions of those who constantly complain about our elected officials and the way our governments work or don't work, but who find every excuse not to vote when the time comes. Put your vote where your mouth is. Then talk to me.