[at-l] Case closed

[AThiker@smithville.net (Felix)]

Jack Tarlin wrote:

> A few days ago, in mentioning how important it is to vote, and in mentioning
> that every individual's voice is important, I provided one example, which
> was mentioning my concern with having Dick Cheyney casting the deciding vote
> when the US Senate finds itself deadlocked. I further mentioned that it
> bothered me that Cheyney's only significant piece of work as a Congressman
> was acting as a shill for the snowmobiling industry in their attempts to get
> snowmobiles into America's National Parks despite clear evidence that they
> were environmentally harmful; I asked, "Is THIS the sort of man you want
> making crucial decisions on America's wilderness areas?"  By not
> participating in the election process, well THIS is the type of leadership
> we get.
>
> Well, lo and behold, I open today's paper and what do I see?  It seems the
> Federal government is all set to overturn a Clinton decision to ban
> snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks despite the fact that the
> EPA clearly stated in 1999 that the machines were causing damage. (see
> http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/12/national/12PARK.html)
>
> In short, I simply can't understand the logic or thought processes of people
> who feel that their vote doesn't matter, that the 2 main parties are
> identical, that there's no point in voting, or, most extraordinary of all,
> that they're doing something noble or dignified by not voting.  If one
> doubts that choosing one's leaders (or not choosing them) can possibly make
> a difference, all you have to do is pick up a daily newspaper, and you'll
> see all the examples you need. This is merely one of them.
>
> Voting matters.  Citizen participation in picking our leaders and
> legislators matters.  Individuals can make a difference.  These facts are so
> patently obvious that it shouldn't be something that needs debating, at
> least not be intelligent people.  Case closed.

(Sorry to have not trimmed this down some. But...)

So...what if I had voted for Cheney? What if I wanted Cheney to let snowmobiles
in the parks? Would my vote have made his vote more powerful? Or, is the simple
fact that he isn't doing what you want him to do your soapbox for complaining
because I didn't vote for someone you wanted me to vote for? It seems to me that
there were citizens who voted for Cheney and, ergo, the masses must be happy
about the result. Thus is democracy. So, you see...maybe voting doesn't matter.

Picking up the daily newspaper is exactly why I don't vote. When a fraze like
'party lines' is used...because elected officials vote based on party lines, and
not what they feel is best or what is best, I choose to not vote. When a man can
get fewer votes than his opponent and still be elected president (electoral
college), I choose to not vote.



--
Felix J. McGillicuddy
ME-->GA '98
"Your Move"
http://Felixhikes.tripod.com/