Get out and vote!

“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” ~Larry Sabato, political scientist

Tomorrow is a critical, history making Election Day. There’s a palpable sense of anxiety hovering like a thundercloud over everything. So much is at stake. These are stormy times, and ours is a volatile, divided nation. Political attack ads on TV are uglier than the back end of a baboon, and for that reason alone, some of us will be relieved when it’s over.

That said, I’m always shocked and disappointed when I learn that many people haven’t voted yet — and don’t even plan to — including a couple of my relatives. Whether they’re uninformed, disinterested, or simply lazy, there’s never a good excuse for not exercising our American right to vote. There are volunteers willing to drive people to the polls if you can’t drive or don’t know where to go.

Sadly, the folks who don’t vote are often the first to complain bitterly — and blame “the government” — when things aren’t working so well in their lives.

Voting is a responsibility. So is studying the issues and candidates on the ballot. That takes work and a willingness to research a variety of reputable sources, including current newspaper articles, opinion columns, and online news outlets. Your angry neighbor’s political rant on Facebook is probably not a reliable source, nor is the opinion of the embittered uncle who watches only one news station and believes that space aliens have control of the White House.

When I vote for a presidential candidate, I consider several factors. First, I think about all the key issues that matter to me — not just one issue.

I listen to what each candidate is promising in regard to those issues, and then I consider how their plans and policies could impact my life in the future. (What about Social Security benefits? Gun control? Freedom of the press? Health insurance? Reproductive rights? Climate change? Religious freedom? Tax evasion? Foreign diplomacy and world peace?) Because my fellow Americans matter to me, I also try to silence my own selfish needs and imagine how my choices will impact others who live in my country, including those who don’t have the blessings I was born into. Yes, I consider The Golden Rule when I vote.

The character, temperament, and moral compass of a presidential leader matter a lot to me.

“The people who really have character make deep, unshakeable connections to something outside themselves,” notes David Brooks, author of The Road to Character. A president of great character cares deeply about the wellbeing of others — and respects the humanity of all people, not just those who’ve voted for them.

If my friends or relatives habitually treat me with disrespect, vulgarity or cruelty, they are not welcome at my dining room table or anywhere else in my home. As my parents taught me, I fill my life with law-abiding people who are honest, respectful, gracious, and considerate. Violent rhetoric is not tolerated. This applies to everyone from my child to my social circle — and I believe the leader of my country should be held to the same high standards.

I want to be proud of how all Americans are represented by the leader of our country. And I want to be represented by someone who exemplifies dignity, integrity, honesty and decency.

Please get out there and vote if you haven’t already. Your vote matters — and our democracy depends on it. All elections have consequences. ~Cindy La Ferle

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