Not voting is not an option
Especially when the October wind
With frosty fingers punishes my hair,
Caught by the crabbing sun I walk on fire
And cast a shadow crab upon the land,
By the sea’s side, hearing the noise of birds,
Hearing the raven cough in winter sticks,
My busy heart who shudders as she talks
Sheds the syllabic blood and drains her words.
— Robert Frost
Early last week my wife and I received our 2020 ballots, then completed and returned them to the Mt. Pleasant city clerk’s office in City Hall. Please be careful: Read and follow the instructions. Not doing so may invalidate your vote.
My wife’s eyesight makes it difficult for her to sign her name. The young nurse’s aide was there to witness and confirm the signature. Also be careful making your wishes known. There is place for single party entry if that is your choice. If you do so, however, don’t mark choices for individual political candidates.
There are many vacancies for non-politicals, such as judgeships, school boards, and so forth. On the back of the ballot are also several ballot proposals. Read them carefully and mark your decision. We both wear our “I voted” stickers proudly.
You probably saw, read, or heard about the first presidential debate. Trump turned it into a disaster for himself by blatant dishonesty, breaking the rules agreed to by both parties, while insulting Biden, his family and the American people. The most egregious was not condemning the Proud Boys and other White Supremacist factions identified as domestic terrorist groups by the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI
There is no reason that by now you haven’t made up your mind about your vote. Not voting is no longer a viable option. As I repeatedly say, this is the most important election in our lifetime. You have an obligation to state how you want America to be. Shall it continue to be divided, full of hatred, unclear as to dealing with the pandemic, not dealing with unemployment, a terrible economy, or safe environment, cringing under the scorn of our allies, doing the bidding of dictators?
The alternative is one in which the president is honest, open, and willing to work with both sides. Biden has clear, operable plans to address health care disparities, toughen gun control, overhaul policing, provide free community college, erase student loan debt, invest in green energy and improve the nation’s infrastructure. He wants to help Americans buy their first homes, raise the federal minimum wage and boost taxes on the wealthy and corporations so they pay their fair share. He would also deal aggressively with the COVID-19 pandemic.
All of these are important. One of the most important is accepting that anthropogenic climate change is real and must be addressed now. Science magazine (25 September 2020, pg. 1621-1625.) “Highimpact marine heatwaves attributable t0 human-induced warming” shows that periods of extremely high ocean temperatures in different regions of the World have increased twenty-fold since 1980. The most impacted is the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to northern South America extending from the western coast to portions of northern Asia. Other areas include eastern and western Antarctica, portions of ocean near Australia and eastern South America, and the Arctic down to New England. Cumulative intensity have dramatically increased since 2015 to an average of 14,000 degrees Centigrade days per square kilometer.
This increase is having severe impact on marine ecosystems, including eradication of some species, such as coral and the flora and fauna that depend on it. It already has had a major affect on fishing in those regions.
It is imperative that you vote properly and early to make our world better.
There isno reason that by nowyou haven’tmade up yourmind about your vote. Not voting isnolonger aviable option. As I repeatedly say, this is themost important election in our lifetime. You have an obligation to state how you wantamerica to be.