Voting

The mail-in ballot arrived. I let it sit for two days, then last night I opened it, read the instructions, and voted. Sealed it in an envelop and mailed it late the next day. I’m done. I voted. I might add that I voted exactly as I had intended to do all along.

In DuPage County, Illinois, a republican bastion is slipping. I voted a straight Democratic ticket. The only unknown were the judges and referenda. The latter were many.

I continue to support a government of opportunity and freedom of choice. This is what I believe the US Constitution asks of us. I also continue to do what individual citizens should do, volunteer and make good things happen for the community. Government does not need to be the final arbiter or doer of good deeds. Those tasks belong to us, you and I. We are the people. The government is of by and for the people. That means, it is up to us to do our part. Letting others do it for us strips us of our moral authority.

Going along with a party because we are too lazy to be informed of the facts, is just another form of nondemocracy. We must know what we stand for. We must take action based on what we stand for. And then we need to vote for what we stand for to ensure the right things get done.

There is no guarantee our viewpoint will win elections, but it won’t win ever if we don’t put our shoulders to the wheel. Simply said. Hard to do. But do it anyway.

I choose to know what is going on. Those facts help me know how to spend my time, efforts and money on the tasks that make a difference. The rest is on government and its agencies. And you.

Never forget how much this all depends on you.

So, live up to it. The promise. The good. The nation we love.

October 11, 2024