Your Ballot Has Been Cast

This is not a post about who to support but rather why I always vote.

I’ve seen some snippets of celebrities squawking about how they've never voted and urging people not to vote…I just shake my head in dismay and hope people don’t listen.  Not voting simply means you are ceding your power, your voice.  You don’t like something -- get involved and change it; don’t sit on the sidelines and grouse about it.

Sure, I will be the first to acknowledge that we don’t always run the best candidates but that’s our fault for not demanding better candidates starting at the local level.  Every four years people get energized for a Presidential election but if Virginia showed us anything in the last four years it is that down-state races are almost more important.  Education, women’s health, transit, roads, energy, environment and gun safety are all decided at the state and local levels.  And around the country states are voting for equality and healthy food too.  Further the very gridlock that encapsulates our federal system today is exacerbated by political gerrymandering at the state level.  Think you don’t have a reason to vote in an off-year election – think again.  It is the states that draw up the districts. It's time to restore some balance!

And don’t get me started about the Citizen’s United decision…

I’m disappointed in many of our elected officials for putting party, ego, fundraising and in some cases hatred above the good of the citizenry, city, state and country.  I’ve toyed with the idea of term limits but in the end that takes away my power to say ‘Yes, you are doing a good job’ or ‘No you are not doing a good job.’   I don’t like to wrest the power from the people/decision-makers in the same way I hate Three Strikes and Your Out – cases should be decided on merits and a case by case basis but that’s for another blog.

So, we have an imperfect system but it is what we have right now.  Yes, it’s time to hold our elected officials accountable but it also means that we need to get involved.  Learn what an issue really means for yourself, your family and your community. An energized and informed electorate can elicit change and even if you don’t have a lot of time, social media can be a big help. 

In a few hours races around the country will end and thankfully, so will the ads and mailers and phone callsJ Whether or not your candidate won does not signify the end of the road…stay involved, talk to your neighbors, work together and make your community better.  And think about running for office yourself!