Cyndi's Two Cents

Your voice does matter

Commentary.

We have some important decisions to make next week.

Like everyone else over these past few months, I have been bombarded with radio and television campaign ads, editorials in print and online publications, an avalanche of political satire and quite often mean-spirited debate on social media sites – not to mention dreaded “robo-calls”.  These political messages support candidates for various elected offices of leadership, usually by attacking his or her opponent.

Despite the mud-slinging and accusations running rampant during election season I have been able to find the information I need to make my decision for which candidates I will cast my vote on November 6th.  I have listened carefully to interviews and read a great deal about voting records and platforms.  I have studied the proposed ballot initiatives and am prepared to cast my vote with confidence.

As offensive and often unpleasant as some of these campaigns can be, I thank God and our founding fathers for freedom of speech and so many constitutional rights that are mine because I am a citizen of this great country.   I have heard some people say they aren’t going to vote because their vote doesn’t really matter anyway.  It does!  Every vote matters.  History proves that to be true.  In 1867, had just one U.S. Senator voted differently, Andrew Jackson would have been removed from the office of President of the United States in 1867.

What would the world look like today if John F. Kennedy had not been elected President in 1960?  Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon for the presidency in one of the closest and most contentious elections in American history. Mr. Kennedy would end up defeating Mr. Nixon by just 0.1 percent in the popular vote.

In 1845, it was a single vote by a U.S. Senator that opened the door for Texas to become one of these United States of America.

You would think that any person asking for your vote would try to gain favor by showing off their best attributes.  We often feel that those who want our vote aren’t listening to us because they are too busy slinging mud at their opponent to hear us.  I’m not pointing my finger at a specific party. I’m pointing my finger at all of them!

As much as we dislike the insults and accusations being tossed back and forth from one party and one candidate to another, we are fortunate to live in a land where we do have a “say” and a choice.  We must exercise our constitutional right to vote so our voices will be heard by those who make the laws and govern the land.  If we don’t show up to vote, we’re basically saying that we just don’t care.  Our inaction tells the leaders and would-be leaders that the keys to the kingdom are theirs, not the peoples, and that we’ll just sit back and take what we get.

It is a privilege for me to cast my ballot.  I can’t wait for November 6!