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Why are we not using our voting power?

In the pre-television era the percentage of Americans voting were much higher. In fact community involvement at all levels was higher in the "good old days". As we know the "good old days" weren't all that good in many ways and for many people. Is the advent of the information age in part responsible for the lack of participation? I think it is a distinct possibility. In our age of television we see solutions to horrible dilemmas worked out in under 60 minutes giving us the impression that long term effort is foolish. Advertisers have convinced the people their value is based upon what car they drive or whose name is on the clothing they wear. Mainstream Media paints the bleakest possible pictures of life in these American States. People have lost hope, they are fast loosing ambition as well. With constant bombardment of negative images many become caught in a state of fear, giving way to helplessness. A climate of scapegoatism and blame has been shouted from the rooftops, our leaders don't take responsibility for the problems in government anymore. We are accepting a picture that shows little hope for solutions.

As we sit nightly glued to our seats in front of the television we shake our heads in disgust. We are disgusted with the wrong people. A large mirror should be placed right in front of the televisions of America during the evening news so we can see who is to blame for the state of the nation. For we are the culprits, the people of this country who are over 18 years old and have the right to vote yet do nothing. Are we holding our elected officials accountable for their actions and their decisions? Do we contact the office of our Congressional representatives or Senators or instead do we just complain. Of course they are doing what they want to do with little regard for the people back home, the people back home are not making themselves heard. Most are too busy with American Idol and the Biggest Loser to take time out to write a representative and voice concerns about the richest Americans getting tax cuts while the rest of us can barely fill the tank with gas.

Interesting though is the spike in voter turnout after the whole election controversy of 2000. All we heard were complaints and comments about the mess the electoral process was in. Republicans and Democrats alike vowed to correct the system so this could never happen again. The Federal Help America Vote act took steps to see this never happens again.

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