One of the only blessings coming from Hurricane Sandy is a brief respite from the usual tenor of political campaigns at this juncture, with the election for President of the United States now only a few days away. Other important offices, at the federal, state and local levels, are up for grabs in this election, as well. In many states, important constitutional amendment questions are posed to the electorate, in some cases asking the populace to forever determine constitutional rights of others in our society.
Whatever your political affiliation — whether you swing left or right, red or blue, or like many, somewhere in the middle — spend the next few days educating yourself on the candidates and the issues that are going to present themselves on your ballot. Really educate yourselves . . . I am not talking about reviewing the latest Facebook updates, tweets on Twitter or, as entertaining as it is, relying on the Daily Show as your sole source of political discernment.
“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd U.S. President)
Our sound bite society needs to spend some real time reviewing reliable, fact-based analysis of the critical issues facing our nation and communities as we decide for whom and for what we should vote. (FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center is one source for bipartisan fact-checking on a variety of ads, issues, and often what are urban legends.)
“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” ~ Abraham Lincoln (16th U.S. President)
Voting is a privilege that we should hold sacred. Our vote is our voice in an election, no matter how quiet or small we may feel at times.
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” ~ Alice Walker
Every vote counts. Every vote matters. If you have not participated in early voting, exercise your right to vote on Tuesday, November 6th.
“Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no good: ‘Tis but one step more to think one vote will do no harm.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ciao! ~ Kat
Travel. Garden. Eat. 
9 responses to “Kat’s Weekly Reflection of Gratitude: The Privilege of Voting”
Reblogged this on Travel. Garden. Eat. and commented:
The sentiment about exercising your right to vote is timeless. Today is the day if you haven’t already … vote, and make your voice heard. I believe love can trump hate, and I hope kindness and our American tradition of inclusiveness will prevail.
Ciao! ~ Kat
LikeLike
[…] Kat’s Weekly Reflection of Gratitude: The Privilege of Voting […]
LikeLike
Well said… and it’s a privilege that many lost their lives for…
LikeLike
We honor their memory best by exercising our right to vote ~ Kat
LikeLike
You are a wise voter-advocate, Kat. As I sit in the booth and shake my head next Tuesday, I am going to think of your words!
LikeLike
Sometimes we hold our nose and make our marks and other times we proudly complete our ballot and put it in the ballot box with a sense of conviction. Either way, I try to remind myself it’s a hard-earned right and privilege denied elsewhere to too many. Thanks Kathy — I know you’re buried catching up with blogs, so feel honored you found time to stop by and comment! ~ Kat
LikeLike
I suppose you’re right – we need to be grateful we live in countries where our voice, in theory, carries a vote. On the other hand, i’ve always felt that as such, we have a responsibility to vote – a responsibility to ourselves, but also to the polity as a whole: if too many of us don’t vote, the results will be skewed toward the lunatic fringes of our societies and democracy becomes instead havoc. Get out and vote, i say! 🙂
As a voice from the lunatic fringe, I think citizens of the world should vote in the US elections – the outcome effects us almost as much as it affects you 🙂
LikeLike
TWG, we are so globally interconnected in many ways that I don’t doubt there are many citizens in foreign lands who will be more affected by the outcome of this election than some within the borders of the U.S.! ~ Kat
LikeLike
🙂 🙂 🙂
Lets hope things are back to normal enough for everyone in the US (at least) to be able to get out and vote 🙂
LikeLike