I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
– Actor and screenwriter Will Rogers was born on this day in 1879 (died 1935).
It’s Election Day in Virginia and across the country.
Here in Virginia, the polls are open until 7:00 p.m. In the 7th Congressional District, I’ll be voting for Ed Gillespie, David Brat and David Brat.
No, I did not stutter. Because of the way Eric Cantor resigned after his surprise primary defeat, Virginia voters in the 7th district will be voting in both a special election to fill the seat immediately, as well as the general election to fill the seat when the new Congressional term begins in January.
This is not about me telling you how to vote. Don’t get me wrong. I’d be happy to.
This is about me telling you that you need to get out and vote.
Our right to vote was bought and paid for with blood. That’s not being melodramatic. That’s simply the truth.
It’s easy enough to complain about our government these days. That Washington and Richmond are broken.
It’s also true that something happens when we elect someone. They may be the most idealistic, principled, correct-on-the-issues person we’ve ever met. But, certainly when they cross the Potomac, and sometimes the James something happens.
“Oooo…Government…Shiny…”
That’s not partisan to say that. It happens to all of them.
Democrats. Republicans. Libertarians.
United Methodists.
Sorry, I got distracted.
Still, just because our government is a failure or we think our vote doesn’t matter is no reason to not vote.
In fact, those are the very reasons we should be flocking to the polls.
We have the government we’ve voted for. Or in many cases haven’t voted for.
No one is forcing you to vote. But as far as I’m concerned, you ought to be ashamed of yourself if you don’t vote.
Or, at the very least, realize that if you don’t vote, you forfeit your right to complain.
Because, quite frankly, if you don’t vote, you’re the problem.
I don’t care how you vote. No, that’s not completely true. I do care.
But I care more about the fact that you vote more than your choice of candidate or issues.
Our country is a representative republic. Our vote is supposed to count and supposed to mean something.
If we don’t show up at the polls, the politicians will continue to believe they can do what they want.
Have an 80-90% turnout at the polls and those guys will say “Holy crap! I’d better start paying attention to my constituents.”
I’m not naïve enough to think that would fix everything. It most certainly wouldn’t. But it just might make things a little better.
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