Last year at this time, everyone was tired of the political commercials. People weren’t just mudslinging against one candidate in favor of their chosen candidate but against one another on blogs and places like twitter and Facebook. The Internet was volatile as we neared election day. Some people lived out such drama in their everyday lives as well, butting heads with coworkers and spouses. It made me laugh, however, when one twitterer that I followed said something along the lines of, “Gee, I’ll be glad when the election is over and we can all forget about politics!”

Say what?

Forget about politics? What strange universe does that particular person live in? More over, why would you want to live in such a place? We only have to worry about things of the political nature every four years? Really? Here I was, thinking that it is important to be involved! I’ll admit it, though… even with the Ohio elections taking place today, I’m tired of the political ads on my television. I’m glad election day has arrived and that people are out doing their civic duty. Or ignoring it. Or perhaps living under a rock. As I got out of the truck at our local precinct today, unbuckling carseats so that TheBrothers could tag along, I heard a woman comment to the janitor who was busy sweeping up the leaves that came down this weekend, “I didn’t even know today was an election day.”

How?

We don’t just vote once every four years. While a national election like the one that picks our President is very important, one could and probably should argue that state and local elections are of vital importance to the citizens of any given area. Those that are elected to city and state government go to bat for us or against us depending on their personal agendas. The proposed laws on local ballots affect us in many ways, good and bad. To not know about such a thing is to drop the ball so horribly and so uselessly that I cannot even begin to justify their lack of action or knowledge. It is not as if this election hasn’t been discussed, in great detail, in all local news outlets including television, radio and news print. I understand that perhaps people are cutting back. Maybe that individual cut her cable out and ceased her newspaper subscription. But, really, shouldn’t you almost expect an election to be held in May and November (at least in Ohio)? Shouldn’t the “Elect Joe Schmoe City Council President” and “Vote No on #58876″ signs in peoples’ yards be an indicator that something is going on? Really, under what rocks are people living?

I’m really touchy about this particular election as our local (city) government is trying to pass a Municipal Income Tax increase that directly affects my family. Without its passing, the fire and police departments will be forced to cut back in many ways. Layoffs are not an impossibility. That’s scary. To know that people didn’t even know that there was an election today is frustrating. FireDad went out with his fellow firefighters and walked door to door, hanging information about the issue on door knobs and talking with citizens. Don’t tell me it’s because your television is broken and you don’t get the newspaper. Wake up. Look around you. Ask questions. Be involved!

I share this rant with you because I want my readers, even those not in the state of Ohio, to do more than the lady in the parking lot. She obviously had done no research on any of the important issues on the ballot, local or state wide. She hadn’t paid attention to any of the local candidates vying for roles in our local government. She hadn’t done her research. Did she think the signs in everyone’s yards were a new kind of “For Sale” sign? Let’s get real. I don’t care how people vote as long as they do it with a bit of knowledge before heading into the precinct doors and pressing buttons all willy-nilly. Civic duty includes knowing what’s on the ballot. And when your election day happens to be.

While you’re at it, take your kids with you when you vote in any and every election. Voting for President is cool and fun and has lots of excitement attached to it. In fact, there are great books about the subject to teach kids about the matter. The truth is that our children need to know the importance of local and state government and how our votes in such elections make a difference. The change we all wanted to see last November has been, at best, slow moving. Teaching our children that change can and should start in our local communities is a great way to teach them about personal responsibility, the role of people in government and the process of democracy.

Plus, stickers are fun.

If you’re in Ohio, there’s still time to vote today. Most precincts close at 7:30 this evening (it varies; research!). If you live in another state, are you voting today? (Maine is. I can see that all over twitter.) Did you vote today? If you didn’t vote today, do you know when your next local and/or state election will be held? Learn the answers now so you don’t sound like the lady in the parking lot and get featured on some ranty lady’s blog.

See that sticker on my shirt? I can rant if I want to.

This work at hom mom who has been cursing the havoc the time change has brought upon her household actually got up early and went to the polls first things this morning. FireDad went after she came home. And, as such, this series has come to an end.

No makeup. No breakfast. No coffee yet even. Win!

Get out and vote today. And enjoy the freedom we have that so many others do not.

I won’t talk about those who aren’t even registered to vote. They’re in a ballpark all of their own. Today, I’m talking to those who think their vote doesn’t count. Today I’m talking to those who are registered to vote but have no plans on making it to the polls on November 4th. (Or earlier for those states with early voting.) Today I’m talking to those who are so aggravated with the Presidential race that they would rather write in their Grandmother than vote for Obama or McCain.

I’m telling you to go vote. And I’m not being nice about it. Okay. I won’t call names. But, let me tell you, my respect level is pretty low for those who aren’t making it to the polls next Tuesday.

Redbook’s November issue has a bunch of quotes from country music stars. Sure. They’re celebrities. “What do they know about politics,” is what I always hear people say about celebrity endorsements. Well, what does Jane Doe know about politics? In fact, one could argue that the politicians involved in this race don’t know anything about what it’s like to live a normal life. Why should you listen to anyone? About anything. Ever?

You can dismiss these stars if you want. But some of their quotes? Well, they speak for themselves.

The great burden of the freedom we experience as a generation is apathy, unfortunately. If we weren’t free, we’d be much more bothered. Voting is so important. -Jewel

This one spoke to me. Deeply. It really got me hot and bothered. Maybe you can’t choose between “the lesser of two evils” when it comes to the two main Presidential candidates. And because of that, you’re considering avoiding the polls all together. Don’t let your indecision negate your voice on some really important state and local issues. My guess is that there are some congressmen who would delight if you don’t show up to support their opposing candidate. Maybe you don’t care if your local fire department has to cut back on manpower. Maybe you don’t care if a local judge running for office is completely unethical because, hey, it doesn’t affect you, does it?

Or does it.

It always does. Your vote or lack thereof affects all of us. It affects my family. It affects your children. It affects the children of parents who aren’t registered to vote and who have no plan to register. Ever. It affects every aspect of your life whether or not you see the actual effects.

Another:

There are people in foreign countries who stand in line all day just to be able to vote, and when people here take it for granted, I think it’s a shame. If you have a gripe, you have the right to voice it and try to fit it by voting. – Reba McEntire

Maybe you’re busy next Tuesday and you don’t want to wait in what might be a record-breaking line. (Well, then, you’re in luck if you live in an early voting state.) Otherwise? Suck it up. Go stand in line. Take your Blackberry with you. Don’t whine about the wait time. Do you realize how lucky you are that you even have this option?

I get angry. Most of the people I know who are stating that they aren’t voting (at all) aren’t even aware of those third party candidates. They haven’t done the research. They haven’t thought about the impact that apathy will have on their local, immediate community. They haven’t thought about the impact that apathy will have on their state’s government.  They haven’t thought past the controversy. It’s hard to look past, that controversy. But you’ve got to. It’s necessary.

And if that reader is you, let me make this plea: take the next week to do all the research you can. Know that it is unlikely that one candidate running for any office will speak for you on all levels. Research the issues. All of them. State issues. Local issues. New taxes. Renewed taxes. All of it! Research the heck out of it. If it seems like too much to research in seven days, well, it probably is but, to be honest, that’s your own fault at this point. Yes, I’m talking bluntly right now. Because I’m fired up. I won’t call you names. Some will. I won’t. But, yes, if you can’t be bothered to research and, at the very least, vote in your immediate local elections, well, yes, I will have a little less respect for you. But I won’t hold it against you for too long. And I can always be bribed with coffee. (We all have our weaknesses.)

Please. Consider it. Research it. Get out there. And just do it. And, to add another quote into this mix as I close, keep this in mind as Tuesday nears:

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. -George Jean Nathan

Vote.

Every Tuesday through November 4, 2008, we will be discussing something political here on Stop, Drop & Blog. Our weekly series is entitled “Is It November Yet” because, well, we’re excited for change, ready for the number of posts in our Google Reader to go down and overwhelmed with the wealth of information to search through. Next week, obviously, we’ll have voting pictures. WOO!

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More Worldess Wednesday here.