by Ken King

What to write about this month? Let me see, the elections and conventions have been getting a lot of attention so I won't say anything about that - yet! I still have a couple of months to hit on that subject and it will give us some time to hear what the candidates have to say during the debates. So I'll wait a little longer on that. There was another major air disaster with the crash of the Concorde and our own tragedy with the T-38 crash at Patuxent River. Lots of planes seem to be going down lately, but nothing I could say would help, other than to say "sorry for your loss" to those that lost their loved ones or knew any of those that perished. What else is there? The weather has been totally screwed up so far this summer, but I guess we do need the rain. I can't remember a summer like this in a long time but I haven't heard one word about the infamous drought that was being harped upon last year by the media and our Governor. Maybe something about how the Internet has provided an unparalleled ability to obtain information or re-establish contact with those I hadn't thought about in years. It's ability to reach out there into other's homes and lives allowing us glimpses about who they are. A lot of things are floating around inside the old noodle. I guess I'll go with the one that pops in there the most. That being this question, why don't the majority of 
Americans vote?

Since the 1960s there has been less than 60 percent of the voting age populace that has cared to vote. In the last presidential election only 49 percent took the effort to make their voice heard. In the off years (those not selecting the President) the turnouts have been dramatically less (with a high of 48 percent in 1966 and a low of 36 percent in 1986 and 1990). Why? What reasons could one have for not performing their civic duty of selecting those that represent and lead us? I have heard a few lame excuses like: my vote doesn't impact anything, it won't make any difference, it won't impact my life, there is no one worthy to vote for, and so forth. 

How wrong these people are. Your vote does have an impact, they all add up and yours could be the one that makes that difference. In local races where the numerical differences are smaller it could mean winning or losing for any candidate (there was only a little over a thousand vote difference in the selection of the State's Attorney here in St. Mary's). A two percent greater showing at the polls could have changed numerous outcomes here in this county. Your vote could make a difference as the people elected impact a variety of things in our lives. The following is a list of some of the major reasons why each and every one of us eligible voters should get out there and vote.

It's our money. The county commissioners, governor, state treasurer, legislators, president and members of Congress you vote for will decide how much of our wealth to invest in public services and how to fairly share the tax burden. It's your children's education. You elect local and state school board members who set public education policy and budgets that will affect how well prepared your children and grandchildren will be for the future. Decisions by our legislators, governor, members of Congress, and president also affect the public schools and the quality and cost of higher education as well. It's your job. Congress, the president, the governor and your legislators influence what job training is available, minimum wage, pay equity, fairness in hiring, health insurance through your employer, job and pension security, and workplace safety. It's your health care. Action by the governor, legislature and Congress has made health insurance accessible to thousands but how many are still uninsured. Their decisions on Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance laws determine your access to health care. They're your highways. Your county commissioners, legislators, governor and members of Congress decide what highways are needed, what alternatives to highways such as public transit to support, and how to pay the bill. It's your Social Security. The president and your members of Congress decide how much payroll tax you pay, cost of living increases and benefit schedules for your Social Security pension, and what Medicare services you receive and share payment for. You breathe the air and drink the water. Your county, state and national elected officials set pollution standards, enforcement strategies and budgets. They plan and zone where roads and industries will be built and how public lands will be used. Decisions that can determine how safe your air and water are. It's your neighborhood. Your elected officials and judges you vote to retain make daily decisions about crime prevention, laws and law enforcement, safe and affordable homes, traffic patterns, where to put schools, parks and recreation. They're our children. We do our best to keep them healthy, fed, safe, educated and cared for. The officials you elect can help or hinder American families trying to do their job.

So get out there and vote, it is important. If you can't find someone to vote for you should at least be able to decide whom you don't want and can vote against him or her by selecting the person running against them. It only takes a minute or two to do and it does mean something unless, of course, you just don't care.