Honor those who fought for your right to vote — by voting
Brace yourself! It’s going to be a long season. The long season of politics is here. Politicians are already counting heads, crossing fingers, trying to convince voters they have the answers while the opponents mulligrub over the issues. But, I see voting as a privilege I proudly share with millions across America every election day. I cast my vote to honor the women who fought for women’s suffrage. My home state of Arkansas adopted a poll tax in 1892 that contributed to barring nearly two-thirds of the voting population in the South from voting. The poll (head) tax was mainly aimed at the “dispossessed” to keep them from voting.
In 1962 the women’s suffrage crusade finally reached its goal when the Kennedy Administration pushed the 24th Amendment through Congress abolishing the poll tax in national elections. By 1964 it had been ratified by the necessary number of states. 1892-1962 represents 70 years of unfair taxation to prevent people from voting simply because they couldn’t afford to pay a $2 poll tax in order to cast their vote.
Politics, much like life itself, is anything but fair. There are no winners when politicians play the game of grab and go. Constituents are always left holding the bag. At this point, I sense the American public, aka the middle class, just want someone to lead us out of this wilderness of chaos. We’re tired of excuses, bickering and finger-pointing.
Our country is already being subjected to an endless rhetoric of empty promises while our two major political parties again squabble over raising the debt ceiling. While this was happening, the debt ceiling somehow got mixed up in the fight over the budget and everyone ended up confused and angry.
While one party screams for spending cuts, the other is demanding ending tax cuts and loopholes. All they seem to be able to accomplish is to agree to disagree. Will our country soon go into default and be unable to pay what is owed? Should the debt ceiling be lowered or raised? We find ourselves living in one state — the state of confusion. The blame game is being played by the money grubbers in the vast stadium called Washington, D.C. Meanwhile what’s left of the middle class holds its breath and waits to see who the winner will be.
This same rhetoric is going on in small towns right here in Colorado. Politicians are already spewing misinformation that has been distorted and taken out of context and presented as facts. I am reminded of the famous quote from Daniel Patrick Moynihan, senator from New York: “You are entitled to your opinion, but you aren’t entitled to your own facts.”
Look at the politics in your community. If you see issues you don’t agree with, then I challenge you to step up and attend town board meetings. You will find the meeting dates and times listed on your town’s web page. By attending the meetings and asking questions, you can become acquainted with how your town politics work. If there are issues or scenarios you wholeheartedly disagree with, then sign up to become a part of the answer instead of mulligrub about them.
And, remember your vote matters. Don’t think you don’t have time to vote. Honor the women who worked 70 years for free elections. Your voice can be heard. Your vote can make a difference.