You can’t Make a Fence if your Sit’n on it!…Vote!

I hear a lot of people complain about the government and various departments such as the Department of Agriculture.  Polls suggest that the people’s trust in government is at record lows.  One person whom I talked to did not vote and said “Why vote, nothing we (the represented) do is ever going to change what the politicians do.”  NOTHING could be further from the truth!

In the 2012 election, President Obama was elected by a margin of only 2.85% of the people that voted, or a mere 3,476,775 votes (Politico.com).  However, only 59% of eligible voters turned out.  That win was accomplished by only 1.68% of eligible voters!  That means that 41% of Americans have either given up (my vote doesn’t matter), believed their candidates were going to win anyway (there was no clear winner), or just don’t care.

The only thing that really matters IS your vote.  Regardless of the special interest, campaign contributions, or conspiracy, without the votes, the politician does not get into office.  Politicians will do whatever it takes to get a majority of votes.  Without those votes, they are nothing.  Even if the majority was dissatisfied with the status quo (as the polls claim), voting against the incumbent (thus changing the winners) would shake up Washington, or your State, beyond measure!

I would have hated to be President Obama, a Senator, or Representative.  How do you think they can determine what the people want if only 1.68 percent of the people support you?  The balance of power between the House and Senate did not change.  So both sides can claim they have a mandate to continue to do what they have been doing.  The election is the one time they hear from ALL of the people, not just special interest groups.

Participation is also essential at the local level.  How long as it been since you attended a town hall or city council meeting?  What a way to socialize and learn the reasons why things are the way they are, as well as influence the decisions.  We need to think for ourselves, and make our voices heard, or otherwise accept that someone else knows better what to do with your money, property, and rights.