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November 6, 2001 Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that the democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. Winston Churchill, 1947 Today is Election Day. It’s an off-year election. Nobody’s running for president or even the state legislature. There are a couple of state ballot issues that have fiscal ramifications but probably won’t change our lives all that much, and then there are local issues, inconsequential to everyone but the citizens of the small political subdivisions where they’ve been put forth. Is it really that important to vote this year? It is, for real reasons as well as symbolic ones. Local elected bodies — school boards, special-district boards — are the bricks and mortar of this country. The Constitution provides the foundation, but decisions made every day in small meeting rooms, by representatives we’ve elected, are democracy not only on display but at work. The fact that the people who sit in those seats are elected by those whose lives they’ll influence, and that those local issues are decided democratically, is a defining feature of the United States of America. It's called participatory democracy, and in order for it to function, each of us must participate. Representative government depends upon broad participation. Each vote matters. The most recent presidential election was close in many ways. The Ute Mountain Ute tribal chairmanship was decided last month by the difference of a single vote. Each of us is important — equally important — every time we have the opportunity to vote. The right to a voice equal to that of every other citizen is, throughout much of the world, an unimaginable one. The absolute belief that those voices will be heard is even rarer. Think of it: we have a government in which we can believe because we govern ourselves. For that we've fought wars, starting with the Revolution. That is our ideal for the world. Going to the polls is less convenient than voting by mail, although at the polling place, we have the advantage of informed advice about how to figure out complicated ballots, and we don't have to sort out for ourselves which color the mailing envelope is, whether we really need to write our birthdates on the outside of the envelope, and how much postage is required. But exercising our right to vote is worth a little effort, especially considering the sacrifices others have made to guarantee that right for us. Going to vote is a symbolic gesture, not for the government but for us. It demonstrates our affirmation of Abraham Lincoln’s commitment that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." The votes we cast in this election, besides deciding the straightforward questions that are on the ballot, will send a clear message to the rest of the world: We are dedicated to our system of government because it works. It’s not perfect, but it works more effectively than any other system on earth, and it will continue working as long as Americans continue voting their consciences. Vote today. It’s a nearly effortless act, with nearly limitless ramifications. |
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Copyright © 2001 the Cortez
Journal. All rights reserved. |
