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Voting, paying taxes, military service, jury duty, and obeying the law are all part of Americans’ civic responsibilities.
A person can be fined if they don’t pay taxes, however, they can’t go AWOL once they join the armed forces and jail time can be the consequence for breaking the law.
For the registered voter, there is no legal punishment for not casting their ballot. There is an underlying civil punishment. It is the punishment of not participating in making a difference.
Electing the leaders of the federal and state government is something that Americans can communally contribute to. The attitude taken: “I won’t vote, it doesn’t matter,” is unrealistic and shameful. An American can take part in the future of their own country.
“Not only do men and women make history, history also makes men and women,” said Ricky Jones, a political scientist and an associate professor of the University of Louisville’s Department of Pan-African Studies.
What if President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson weren’t elected in 1960? Then laws mandating segregation may still exist or a man on the moon might still be a dream.
This liberty must be exercised. There are reports all over the media of record numbers of registered voters. The record breaking should continue on Election Day.
The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Kentucky, giving you plenty of time to vote.
Registered voters can also take it a step further by making phone calls to remind family members and friends to vote and even driving people to the polls.
Election Day was once granted to only one part of the U.S. population. To be able to vote regardless of race or sex, is equivalent to honoring those before you. These subordinate groups are now able to somewhat equally share in politics. Voting is a privilege.
In some countries, the process is unheard of or it resembles America’s voting process before 1920. Don’t be discouraged, just do it!
If lack of information is deterring voting, then talk to friends, professors or a parent for some insight. Or check out some news or candidates’ Web sites in between checking your Facebook page. The time is today to get in the know.
Investigate and get to the polls. United States registered voters have so much power today.
However, people will have their reasons for not participating in today’s election or refusing to register to vote.
“Some people don’t participate in the political process because they don’t think any of the candidates, said Jones. “Not just Barack Obama and John McCain, but from the metro council level, all the way up to the President don’t really speak to the issues that they would like to have spoken too.”
People can have their doubts, but those who are registered to vote probably do not fit into this category. Utilizing this privilege is imperative.
Elections are part of the fabric of the United States. The fabric appears to be wilting due to the bad news about the economy daily.
Belief in the country is hanging by a thread because of the turbulent past eight years that included escalating gas prices, damaged foreign affairs and two mismanaged wars. Americans cannot give up.
Votes do count and they can change the course of history. It’s not what a person can do individually, but what people do collectively that makes a difference.
