VOTER'S VERSIONS Today has been Election Day throughout our native land. Millions of citizens of this nation sought out their nearest voting site today and cast a ballot in favor of their favorite choice from among the candidates who's name had been set forth. A million others persons - for as many different reasons - it seems, did not vote.
Sometimes I use stronger terms, but most of the time I think of this non-voting group as our Second Class Citizens. Over the years, I have wondered what stigma we could attach to such people who thus endanger our country and make it more difficult for others to maintain a worthy lifestyle; complicate our relations with other states who see us as being weak and divided into warring factions. The non-voter actually "votes" in a curious, blind, unthinking, nonsensical manner by his absence from the polling booth.
I heard some talk along this line of thought during the last few weeks of this election, in particular, when it became apparent that many would stay away from the polls since this was a "meaningless" Mid-Term election. Many people stay away from it all and make of taking part only in major elections. They only show for major elections and they usually appear with woefully ignorance of issues under consideration. Theirs are self-inflicted wounds and do not deserve the "welcome home" treatments they, so often, get. The Australians have tried a system whereby persons who do not vote are charged a stiff tax for failing to do so. It did not work as planned.
We each come away from the voting machine with different thoughts in mind, I suppose. I always feel a small portion of patriotism I guess you might call it in which I say to myself: "Well now! I've done my part! I've voted!" It feels good when an election official places a tiny sticker on my jacket which lets others know I have done my civic duty. I usually pass them along to grandchildren the next day or stick them on my coffee mug to remind me of a special time for all of us.
Often we find people who do not vote are eagers critics of whatever system used by those who do so."O my,yes! I wish we'd go back to usin' plain ole paper and pencils again! It think maybe I'd go
back if..."
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 11-7-06 [c-414wds]
