Observations from the Voting Booth

As I left the voting booth my mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts. This election was different, not just because of the historic ramifications, but different for me as well. For me it carried with it a sense of great importance, like no other in which I have participated, and I sensed that many people felt much the same way. I was struck by three thoughts in particular:

1. Voting requires the courage to say yes and the wisdom to say no.
   At least one of the propositions (dealing with criminal justice) on my ballot expressed (in essence) reforms that I have long felt are needed in this country. I was surprised to find that it was very difficult to vote for. There were of course, the typical concerns about the implementation, and if it would be done correctly. What would the consequences be if it were not implemented correctly? I hesitated, and then asked myself, will change ever occur in this country if we are not brave enough to take the first step, and voted yes. The proposition failed, and I may never know for sure if my decision was the correct one, but sometimes positive change requires the courage to say yes.

   In yet another case, one of the propositions on my ballot (dealing with alternative energy) attempted to enact reforms which I feel are vital to this country, and I found the opposite approach to be necessary. I agreed in great detail with what the proposition was attempting to do, but I felt the cost was much too high in a time of economic crisis. I looked at it over and over, trying to find a realistic justification that the benefits which would be derived would more than cover the cost, and for all my effort, I could not. Ultimately (for me) it required the wisdom to say no.

   One person’s courage to say yes may be another’s wisdom to say no. What is important is that we vote with courage and wisdom, regardless of how we might feel that they apply.

2. Know what you vote, vote what you know.
   It is of vital importance that we exercise our right to vote. It is the first step in alerting our elected officials that we care how the country is run, and we are a voice that should be listened to. Beyond simply voting however, we need to be informed and to know what we vote. The political process preys on the uninformed with brief descriptions that hide the real intent and cost of the propositions we vote for. When I first started to vote, I felt that I had to vote in every category, no matter how informed or uninformed I was. I have since come to understand the subtle damage that comes from voting in that way. While it is important to vote, and preferably on a wide range of issues, there is wisdom in passing on those issues in which we feel we are largely uninformed and letting more informed voters control the outcome on those particular issues. Know what you vote, vote what you know.
   
3. Democracy doesn’t sleep between elections.
   The greatest thing about the electoral process is that it inspires people to stand up and be counted like nothing else. The more heated or passionate the election, the greater the number of voters. Far too often however, we (as a society) cease to exercise our democratic rights in the wake of those elections. We let the process run itself, content to wait for the next election, frequently ignoring the lesser elections that do not involve a presidential candidate. Democracy does not sleep, and we should not sleep in our exercise of it. As we move in to a new chapter of history, make sure your elected officials know what you want.

   Now is the time for revolution! A revolution, fought not with weapons, but with words and ideals. Fire the first shot by making sure your elected officials know what you expect of them.

   Many of you have seen Will’s letter to President Obama, or perhaps you have seen my previous post If I were President. I will be sending the contents of that post out to my elected officials as well. Whether you choose to copy and paste, or write your own, I urge you to do the same. Write your President, your Congressman, even your city and county officials and let them know what you expect.

What is the greatest thing you can do to influence the direction of our country?