Every Vote Counts. So Why Doesn’t Everyone Vote?

Before I address the topic du jour I want to thank my wife for all of her support and technical assistance in helping me set up this blog. Venting about the state of our [theoretical] union is my forte and facilitating social media outlets is hers. Opposites rightly attract.

Every American citizen has the right to vote. Well sort of. The American right to vote was not always a right, and when it was formalized as one, women and blacks were excluded. Today all US citizens can legally vote, but unfortunately the average percentage of people who vote in national elections is an anemic 59%. In fact, voter turnout has declined in each of the last three presidential elections. And yet, our overall population has slowly increased. What gives?

Under federal law each state can enact their own voting requirements. Some [red] states require specific types of identification that some citizens, often minorities, do not possess or cannot obtain, which prevents them from voting. States with large minority populations make it difficult, if not impossible, for minority voters who do not have adequate transportation options to get to distant polling places; and some voters are turned away on election day because they have erroneously and/ or suspiciously been removed from the voter registration databases.

This explains some of the voter no-shows, but where are the registered, able voters on election day? Some will tell you that their daily responsibilities get in the way, while others simply assert they feel it doesn’t matter whether or not they vote. To this group I say, stop feeling your feelings and vote! This is, or was, your country and every law that is passed or rejected is a direct reflection of your apathy. So stop complaining when the current megalomaniac is ruining the country and making a mockery of our democracy. Actually a new and better word for what 45 is doing in Washington is a demockery.

If you want to take our country back from the white, conservative men who are currently dictating how your hard-earned dollars will be spent, e.g a billion dollar Mexican wall, who can enter the country, and how women can and cannot control their own bodies, then get off your lazy, apathetic ass and get to a poll! The midterm elections are critical to our future. The dead Washington weight, both Democrats and Republicans, must be voted out of office, and the midterms are the perfect and only time in the next four years that you can truly influence what happens in our country. But if you like our current totalitarian government, then by all means sit on your apathetic sofa, but stop complaining because there is no one to blame but yourself.