by no one in particular

Created on: June 10, 2008

The apathy of the American voter is shameful. Lives have been sacrificed on many battlefields to win this right for every American. At the beginning of the 20th Century women all over America marched and fought for their right to cast a vote. Part of the focus of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's was to insure the right to vote for all citizens regardless of skin color. We are fortunate in this nation to have a process for electing our leaders as opposed to having them selected for us by those in power. As this right is ignored and viewed as something of little effect, the course of our nation is being determined by only a few of our number. Precious Civil Liberties are slowing being eroded, policies that reward the rich and penalize the poor are being enacted, the rich are getting richer as the middle class is being taxed beyond their ability to pay, all taking place as Americans are lost in a sleep of apathy.

Casting a vote is the foundation of a democracy. In a Democracy the citizens are able to determine the course of their nation, their home, and their collective future. This is a right that has been hard won by many of our citizens, yet today is taken for granted. Taxation without representation is what the Revolutionary War was all about. As King George levied taxes on the foundling colonies, anger and dissatisfaction grew as there was no representation for the colonies in the British Parliament. As the new world began to suffer under the tyranny of British rule an uprising began culminating in the founding of the United States of America. Self determination was at the heart of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the people of America would choose leaders and they would be responsible to those constituents. A new form of government was born, power was in the hands of the people not the ruling class.

For 200 years we have elected our leaders and they have reported to us on their activity. We have relied on them to make decisions for the betterment of our society and our lives and welfare. Somehow over the past few decades people have allowed this process to get out of hand. We see times becoming more difficult, decisions less favorable, politicians less honorable. Common sense would dictate in this environment great action would be taken by the voters, yet they have largely remained silent. Over the past 40 years voter turnout in the country has declined by nearly 40% yet people are voicing more and more dissatisfaction with the government.

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