There are three things to which I have an uncontrollable
visceral reaction of AAARRGGHHH! One is seeing a faded and tattered
American flag waving from a pole, the second is seeing rosary beads
worn as a fashion accessory and the last is an adult telling me he
or she doesn’t vote.
There are three things to which I have an uncontrollable visceral reaction of AAARRGGHHH! One is seeing a faded and tattered American flag waving from a pole, the second is seeing rosary beads worn as a fashion accessory and the last is an adult telling me he or she doesn’t vote.
The flag is an important symbol and there is etiquette in its care. A rosary is a tool to aid solemn prayer and reflection. Compared to the conditions of poverty, homelessness and other societal injustices, these two are just part of my conditioning, and I keep my exasperation to myself.
However, eligible voters not voting rates high on the community scandal meter, because, while some think it’s a “chicken or the egg” thing, I think the larger societal ills of poverty, homelessness, environmental degradation, poor education, etc. can be linked to low voter turnout. It shows people aren’t involved and aren’t paying attention to what’s going on around them, which gets us into all kinds of trouble.
After getting this off my chest, I must say I appreciate the reasons some people don’t vote. Some people are so turned off by the (pick one or all) the negative tone of campaigns, the lack of specific plans, the lack of quality of the candidates, or some other valid concern, that they don’t vote as a mode of silent protest.
Or, they don’t vote because it takes a lot of effort to get the true story to make the right decision on any issue or candidate. One newspaper will exclude even just one sentence of the highlights of a report on which many other newspapers are reporting that day. That one excluded sentence slants the story enough so that the article, presented as impartial, will, in fact, align with the ideological bias of the corporation that owns it. Who has time to compare the news coverage of the scads of periodicals and TV news channels?
Another reason: “psychic numbing.” It’s not that they don’t care. It’s that they can’t let themselves care. Many people feel discouraged and disenfranchised from the political process. They believe that without a donation of tens of thousands of dollars, their views won’t be adequately considered and represented by their government. The lack of respect for ordinary citizens is discouraging.
There are also so many issues to investigate that are relevant to us that it’s overwhelming. All the issues that affect us – housing development, environmental policy, primary and mental health care coverage and provision, rules and regulations of corporations, energy policy, including the use of nuclear power, seem to change in processes that don’t include our input. For some people, it’s better to suppress the fear and anger from the threats to our well being and safety, and instead focus on the things they can control: their families, their jobs, their homes.
However, the dangers of not voting trump all of these. Besides, we’d be hard pressed to find another state that makes it so easy to vote. Registration forms, with prepaid postage for return, are everywhere. You are sent a voter information guide that is available in at least two other languages. In Texas, when “the Shrub” first ran for governor, I called the Registrar of Voters to report I hadn’t received my guide. When I explained what it was, the staff person laughed. “Texas dudn’t send out voter guides. Y’all have find out that stuff yourself.”
One only has to recall the aerial photos of the long lines of the South African blacks who waited hours and hours in the hot sun to cast their first votes ever to appreciate this privilege that is our birthright.
In my family, we tell our children about my father, a milkman with only a high school education. Losing his final battle with cancer, he was weak and bedridden. But on the day of the California primary in 1996, he made my sister to take him to the polls. She held him up as he leaned on his cane, stopping seven times to catch his breath in his journey between the car and the voting booth, where he insisted on having his say. He died a week later. My sister keeps his ballot stub as reminder of the value of this most fundamental act of citizenship.
If you’ve never voted before, start now. Create your own legacy of voting for your family to hand to future generations. It is not too late. The last day to register is Oct. 18. Forms are available at the post office, DMV, library, City Hall and at some non-profits. No matter what your education level, no matter your housing status. Register, read the guide, get out and vote. Things won’t get better unless you do.
