Stop, Drop and Blog

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!