What are you doing on Nov. 4?

Posted Friday, September 19, 2008, at 10:15 AM

This coming election on November 4 will by my second Presidential election to vote in which I vote. I am very proud to say that I have voted. I remember the first time I went to go vote. It was November 2, 2002. It was my senior year of high school. We had a playoff football game that night, it was the first playoff game for our school in about 15 years I believe. The team left before school got out so I had to wake up early to go vote before I went to school. Now I don't claim to be a political genius, in fact I would like to get much more educated on the candidates before I make my decision. But there is one thing that I do know. It is my responsibility as a citizen of the city, county, state, and country to go the polls and make an informed decision. I was told as I was growing up that if I didn't vote, then I couldn't complain. Whether I voted for the winner or not, if I didn't vote than I couldn't complain. Having this background, I find it very frustrating when people complain about the political decisions that have been made at any level of government. Then they proceed to tell me that decisions like this are what make them not vote. A representative government doesn't work if those being represented don't participate. If I vote for Candidate A, it is because I believe that that is the best candidate to represent me and what I stand for. The Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance just released the results of the Judicial Report Cards last month. This is something that makes me very happy. I will admit when I went to the polls and I was asked about judges, I just voted to retain everybody because I had nothing on which to base my decision. I applaud Kansas as well as the other stated who have adopted similar programs. I would also like to commend the "Rock the Vote" organization. Since 1990 this organization has been encouraging the younger generation to register to vote and to be an active voter. Rock the Vote along with MTV's Choose or Loose Bus has registered nearly 600,000 voters. Long story short, go vote. Take the time out of one day a year to check a few boxes and improve your local or national government. Nobody can vote for you. It is your responsibility. ---------------------------------------------------------------------