I've lost track of the years I've served as an election
judge. It must be at least six years, probably more. Of course some years there
is no election held, but in most years at least one election is scheduled and
sometimes two. One doesn't make a living from this work; I think the most I
earned from the election commission was $364 for a two-election year. Still
there are rewards.
Like Tuesday's election. It was a municipal election in
the main. Two of our town’s aldermen were running in contested elections; one
won, the other lost. All four of the candidates I know. Of course I had my
favorites: one lost, one prevailed. And so it goes.
Yesterday’s post made a claim that some would think bold. I
said the story of the election would not be who won or lost, but rather who
didn’t bother to vote. In our polling place four precincts were served with
about 2700 eligible voters. Only 459 of them bothered to turn out. Not even
20%; barely 17%! That is a blotch on the voters in Warrenville , Illinois
The story in America
is citizen involvement and active understanding of their government. The issues
are often tiny but taken as a whole make up large principles that matter in the
long run. Governance is about the long term. It’s about building long term
futures for generations of citizens now alive and yet to come. Building blocks
of decisions are made one at a time. Sometimes these seem insignificant but that
would be in error.
Democracy is a labor intensive deal. We, the citizens, have
the authority and responsibility to know the issues, understand them well, and
know and trust candidates we will select to do our business. Sometimes we
volunteer to be that candidate; mostly we support others in that role. But in
all instances it is our duty to know, study, spend time and energy, and then
take action to vote and to urge others to vote. That behavior will maintain our
democracy in good health. Ignoring our democracy and not participating in it
will surely lead to its death.
In most of our communities there are citizens who talk,
teach, write and report on civic matters so others will have the opportunity to
understand the issues. The tragedy in most of these communities is the general
public doesn't pay attention, is easily led by nonsense chatter about some
issues, and then doesn't bother to vote. Such is/was the case in Warrenville , Illinois
The further tragedy is/was that most communities in the USA
suffer from the same ailment.
Oh, people will say they can’t trust the politicians. But
who made the politicians in the first place? Those who don’t vote truly make
politicians possible. Now, I’m using a negative definition of the term
‘politician’. My definition is: ‘A person who intentionally misleads others in
order to gain elected office and maintain that position for his/her own self
interest or gain.’ I know that is a cynical view. But having been an elected
official and knowing what my intentions were and how irrelevant they were
treated by voters taught me that my efforts were not appreciated in the main.
My decisions were well thought out and focused on the long term. Such decisions
are often misunderstood by the non-involved. So they vote against you. This
happens a lot in most communities. And it produces local governments that do
not work effectively in managing the long term affairs of the community. In
Warrenville we are most fortunate. Long term concerns rule the daily routines. The
community is successful. But it will remain so only if the electorate fulfills
its duty by knowing and understanding the issues before it and open to
elections.
Such is the tenuous nature of any democracy. It is healthy
only as long as its people work hard to make it so. Knowledge is power.
Ignorance breeds corruption and loss of power except for those stealing it for
their own gain.
Which is our type of democracy? Tenuous and in danger? Or
healthy and vibrant. Only the voters have the power to make that decision.
Where do you stand with your duty?
April 9, 2015
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