Voter apathy allowing GOP to seize control

Message to apathetic voters: Are you turned off by politics and politicians and manifest your disgust by, at best, voting in presidential elections? Sadly, this only amplifies the current problem in the U.S., rule by minority.

It’s during midterm elections, when turnout is low, that a motivated minority party makes it’s gains. This strategy has put minority politicians into governorships and state legislatures, where they can cement their position of power by gerrymandering election districts and passing restrictive voter laws.

By activating their base to turn out and vote even in midterm elections, Republicans have ensured that legislation that would benefit all of us never reaches the finish line. Arcane rules such as the Electoral College and the filibuster, paired with ubiquitous lobbyists, deliver the coup de grace. Among a long list of other inequities, it has given us an unrepresentative Supreme Court.

If you are frustrated by the current state of affairs, give midterm voting a try and encourage others to do likewise. I find both parties deficient but usually can select a person who is more representative of my views. If enough of us do this, we can get back to majority rule.

Linda Baumann, Davis