If you want to spoil a holiday gathering, start talking politics. At least that is how the old adage goes, avoid politics, sports and religion.
Well, I am going to break that cardinal rule. I’m going to talk politics. Kind of.
Following a weekend spent largely on the couch battling the efferzoogies and watching national news, I am pretty alarmed at the number of people who said they aren’t going to vote, and what the repercussions of that action – well, inaction – can be.
First, how is your voice going to be heard if you don’t vote? Who knows how you feel about referendums, bond issues or candidates? If Joe Blow gets elected by a landslide, he or she is going to think they have a mandate to carry out their agenda. But what if that landslide is simply because those who don’t like Mr. Blow just stayed home? The support for his ideas doesn’t represent the majority, just the majority of voters, because the rest didn’t show up.
Beyond that, if there is a continued slump of voters, that indicates apathy is becoming more and more widespread. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing, or so Edmund Burke said. So it is with elections. I’m not saying this candidate or that candidate is evil.
But when those in power feel that no one is watching, no one cares about the outcomes, they may take that as tacit permission to do as they choose, rather than as they were elected to do. There will be no consequences because the voters don’t remind the office holders who employs them. That employer is we, the people.
If you don’t get something (or someone) you don’t ask for, you don’t have anyone to blame but yourself.
Elections, especially in small communities and low population counties, can be won by only a few votes. So for crying out loud, get out there and make your choices known.
Early voting begins at the Blaine County Election Board (and in other counties as well) at 8 a.m. Wednesday (today) and ends at 6 p.m. Early voting continues Thursday and Friday during the same hours and Saturday from 8 a.m-2 p.m. On election day, polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and anyone in line to vote at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballot. Voters must show a voter ID or a state-issued ID when