Seriously. I know that we all care so much about the national election (Well, except for those of us who have thrown up our hands and started glutting ourselves on strudel because we can’t take it any more.) but local races? They matter.
Why?
1. It’s the local races that often start the candidate pool that leads up to the big races. Not always obviously. Our current president didn’t do this, but most politicians do.
Sheep: Dude? Why do we all look the same? We are not all the same!
2. Local issues matter. No. Really. They do.
Gabby the Dog says: The only issue I care about is tongue length and cookies for all canines? Will you vote with me?
No matter what your political leanings are, it’s easy to get all huffy and upset over what presidents do, but local issues matter too.
It’s stuff like school funding, energy programs, how high your property taxes are, what kind of development goes into your town, whether you have a playground or not, whether or not you can put a sign on your business that doesn’t have to be pre-approved, fire and police budgets, if you can put a fence in your backyard.
It sounds silly, but the consequences of local decisions (for example sprawl due to lack of regional planning leading to higher childhood obesity rates leading to higher costs of health care) are really far reaching.
Sparty the Dog: The only issue I care about is One Dog = Eighteen Daily Walks. Is that local enough?
I’ve met a couple people when I’ve knocked on doors who have told me that they probably aren’t going to vote because they don’t like either of the main parties’ presidential candidates.
That kills me. Seriously. I can understand not liking any presidential candidates. It has happened to me almost every four years, but there are other races. There are U.S. senators and city councils and people going onto library boards who might want to ban books. Honestly… a woman in Texas once got to be constable because she was the only one who showed up?!? That kills me, too.
3. You Have A Responsibility
People fought and protested to get the right to vote in this country. We didn’t all just magically have it the moment the country started. People risked their health, their lives to be able to participate in the decisions that impact them and their lives. People still do.
Imagine if someone told you that you couldn’t vote because of your gender, your race, your economic status, your sexuality, your level of physical ability, because you were too poor? That’s what used to happen. Do you know how you keep that from happening again? You vote.
Here’s a handy site that tells you where to do that in your state or district.
And sometimes people still don’t get to vote. If you can do it, please do.
Insert Begging Here.
VOTE!!! Vote for all parts of the ticket not just president. It’s so much cooler than not voting at all.
PREORDER MY NEW NOVEL!
It’s a little book baby and it’s out October 1. It’s sparse and stark and makes me cry. I hope you’ll preorder it for .99. So cheap! So cheap for tears. After Oct.1, the cost goes up to $2.99.
