With finals approaching next week, and thoughts of taking some well-deserved time off before having to do it all over again, there is one very important issue which each student should focus on during the upcoming months, and that being the elections of 2006.
From sheriff spots to the U. S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Bill Frist, Tennesseans will be faced with either electing or re-electing candidates who have hopes of winning their particular races.
And while some of the races may not appear all that important, just remember, if you don’t make a concerted effort to become involved in the political process of this country by simply voting for the candidate of your choice, and your candidate fails to garner enough votes to get elected and the opponent wins, you have automatically surrendered your right to complain about the opponent.
It’s a complete mystery as to why so many people in this country don’t vote, or for that fact, don’t care what happens at any or all levels of government.
Perhaps this is one reason why some of our elected officials continue to snub their noses at the American people.
And excuses for not voting are as lame as the person who fails to vote.
“Why bother to vote. All politicians are alike.”
“My vote is only one vote and really doesn’t matter.”
“I can’t get off work.”
The worst excuse of all though has to be, “I forgot to register.”
Failing to vote is bad enough, but failing to take the time to register is undoubtedly either the height of stupidity or total lackadaisical laziness.
And one can only imagine what those apathetical individuals who didn’t register would say if suddenly the voting rights of every American disappeared. Nothing.
There’s a fundamental reason why our founding fathers included voting as one of our fundamental rights. To make certain that each qualified citizen had an active voice in their new government.
It can be said with some certainty too, that our founding fathers never envisioned citizens who didn’t care if they voted or not.
We have unfortunately reached the age of apathy, with little of hope of escape.
Not something our founding fathers would be proud of.

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