Watching the news networks this weekend we all witnessed the expected Labor Day gear up for the midterm elections. Along with looks into local elections, tons of talking heads and one hell of a speech by President Obama we also saw quite a few person on the street interviews.
The regular people on the street came from all walks of life, age groups, racial backgrounds and political leanings. The one thing I noticed was how many people stated that they lacked the motivation to take an hour of their busy lives to vote in the upcoming election. This seems to be an ongoing theme in our country for midterm elections.
You heard people say things like “I am not inspired by any candidate”, “I am disappointed in what has been accomplished during the Obama Presidency”, and the classic “this election will not affect me”. Of course the vast majority of these comments came from the young, the Democratic and the Independent voters.
In contrast the Conservative Republican and tea bag people interviewed seem highly motivated and ready to come out in force in November.
I have a couple of questions for all of you. How can you not be motivated to express your opinion in the most fundamental way an American citizen can? How can you ignore the history of your family who’s members sacrificed hardship and wars to give you that right? How on earth can you feel that a national election will not affect you in any way? Why would you gag yourself and your views by not voting?
I would like to take the time to point out a few things, fundamental facts you might say about midterm elections.
First of all the people running for office are not there to inspire you, they will be the ones speaking for you until the next time they run for office. They will pass laws in your name. They will follow the policy that they preach in your name. They will band with other politicians to set the course for our nation in your name. Whether you vote for them or not they will represent you. The fact is that very few politicians are truly inspirational, they are bureaucrats, plain and simple. For every inspirational politician our nation has had there have been hundreds more who simply do the job. Inspirational or not the person elected will speak for you, your neighborhood and your state. Rarely if ever will you find a politician who sees every single issue the same way you do, you must choose the one who most closely shares your views.
Next is that every election affects you! On just about every ballot there are state, city and county tax and bond measures. There are people on the ballot running not just for national or state office but local judges, sheriffs, DAs, city council and school board members. How much closer to home do you need an election to get to affect you?
Then there are the national level politics that many people, to my dismay, claim do not affect their lives. Did the policies of the ten years before President Obama affect your life? Did uncontrolled financial and investment institutions affect your life? Did the financial crash affect your life? Did the war in Iraq affect your life? Was there anything the congress, senate and presidency did in those ten years that affected you in any way shape or form? There is no possible way that any American citizen can say no to that. All of our lives have been affected by the ten years that Republicans ruled the government. How can you say now that a national election will not affect your life?
Then you have the crowd that is disillusioned because the changes that President Obama promised are coming too slow. I have one thing to say to that. Boo frickin Hoo.
We have seen more positive change in this nation in the last two years than we saw in the decade prior to Obama taking office. If it is not coming fast enough for you than I suggest you look at who represents your state in our government. We have seen environmental and energy reform bills passed. We have seen credit protection and health care reform passed. We have seen an end to combat operations in Iraq. We have a President who wants to end tax cuts for the rich, expand domestic spending and protect the people from abuse by corporations and their minions. All this while one party blocks every measure he proposes and others prey on our basic fears and racist attitudes to work against him.
We have candidates running in this election who flat out state they wish to return to the Bush Presidency economic structure. The very same economic structure that led to the financial problems our nation faces today. Protect the wealthy and the corporations with tax cuts and exemptions while raising taxes on the middle class and small business. How can that not affect you?
We have candidates running who would seek to rewrite the Constitution of the United States of America so they can further their religious and racial intolerance. How can that not motivate you?
We have candidates running who seek to eliminate Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. They also want to eliminate programs such as unemployment insurance, the FDA and the Department of Education. Do you seriously think you or your family will not be affected by these actions?
Politicians running on and endorsing policies of hate, fear, intolerance, corporate privilege, environmental neglect, and taking away our basic liberties as Americans is not enough for you to care?
What the hell is wrong with you people? What exactly would make you care about an election?
You all need a reality check here people! This election like any other is important. This election unlike many others may set the tone of our nation for years to come. Do we want things to go back to the Bush era or heaven help us one step beyond?
Or, do you want our nation to continue the slow and painful process of recovery? Do you want us to move forward, not backward? Do you want a democracy or a theocracy? Do you want we the people to elect those in government or do you want them all to be corporate lackeys?
The choice is yours. No one can force you to vote. It is your right and your privilege. It is something that millions of our forefathers have fought and died for on forgotten battlefields to protect. It is fundamental for our nation to be represented fairly.
These statements about not being motivated or inspired are excuses. If you are simply to lazy, to busy, to ignorant to see the importance of voting, or just do not give a damn about our nation then just be honest. Quit weaseling and whining. Come out and say so.
One thing I have noticed over the years. People who bitch and whine and moan about how bad things are in our nation are the ones that did not vote! My response to them is always the same: If you did not vote you have no right to voice any opinion on what is happening. You gave up that particular right when you chose to pass by your polling place on election day rather than casting your ballot.
If you don’t vote, then spend the next two years answering no polls, not speaking in front of a camera, not voicing your opinion and just taking whatever the government says as Gospel. Why? You muzzled yourself with the loss of your vote. You gave your opinion away to others. You have no say, whatsoever. Enjoy being the flotsam on the ocean that is our nation.
I am not asking you to be inspired or motivated. However, I am asking you to vote. It is after all our most fundamental liberty. Remember, an unenthusiastic vote counts just as much as an enthusiastic one.

Use it or lose it!!! It is your choice!