Three Important Statements On Voting

Taken from yesterday's comments

From pinko:

President Bush and this administration has trumpeted his personal faith and his faith-based initiatives.

I'm going to vote tomorrow, and I consider that a faith-based action.

I'm going to vote as an act of faith in the strength of our democratic system. It's an act of faith because I have no proof that voting is a valid action or that my vote, or anyone's vote, will matter tomorrow or ever matter again.

I'm basing my faith on several assumptions.

The first assumption is purely cynical; it's the assumption that this country is too complex to be rigged for every race in every county in every state. Since there are multiple elections going on it would seem to be a lot harder to rig all these elections simultaneously. In a Presidential election there are only two choices that matter; here there are many.

The second assumption is that this country still has enough people who care enough about democracy that they will refuse to let others be disenfranchised, even if those others do not vote the way they would prefer. This may be extremely naive on my part but it's a faith I'm clinging to right now.

The third assumption I have is that the vast majority of people in this country are feeling fed up; that no matter how many people are barred from the polls on whatever flimsy reasons, the people who actually do get to vote will so overwhelmingly make their displeasure known that a balance will be tipped. (And of course, if my first cynical assumption about fixing the vote is wrong, then this one won't count no matter how people feel.)

Another reason I'm voting is the old "third time's the charm" hope. 2000, then 2004 - maybe it will come out right in 2006, who knows?

The last reason I'm voting is the most faith-based of all: this is my country and I can't bring myself to simply shrug and give up. I know what America is supposed to stand for, I know what America has stood for in the past, I know what America is possible of being today and tomorrow and in the future beyond that - the America we all could recognize again.

I have always felt that America is not as much just a place so much as an idea: liberty and justice for all; government of the people, by the people, for the people; the pursuit of happiness.

America the idea is worth fighting for. America the idea is worth dying for.

America the idea is worth an act of faith this one more time, and tomorrow I will be in line to vote.

From enemy of the people:

I too am voting tomorrow but for only one reason.

In 1968 I was a newly minted "eligible to vote" Marine serving in Viet Nam, Republic of, as a Radio Operator in the First Marine Division. At the behest of the Marine Corps those of us who would be eligible had registered to vote earlier in the year with our home districts by absentee ballot. Our ballots were sent to us in October and we gathered around where ever we happened to be and voted. I happened to be on an operation with 7th Marines in what we called the "Arizona Territory" southwest of Danang.

I have voted every election since and will be damned if I am going to pass this one up. Especially this one. There have been warnings about threats and intimidation and poll workers asking for ID and all other kinds of foolishness. I only have a couple of things to write about that: There is not an army big enough to stop me from voting this or any other time. No one at my polling place wants to even think about trying to stop me.

Because of the kind of ballots we use here where I live, I am reasonably sure my vote will count. Because I live in a heavily Republican area, it won't count for much.

And for those who experience voting problems Concerned Citizen writes:

FYI to everyone, excerpt from today's Wall Street Journal, below. Note the contact info if you run into any voting problems and spread the word; if you have a video camera and the time, volunteer!:

"The Election Protection Coalition and Voter Action will staff call centers where they will field voter complaints to their 866-OUR-VOTE and 888-SAV-VOTE numbers and dispatch lawyers to any trouble spots. Video the Vote is enlisting "citizen journalists" to film polling-place problems.

Pollworkers for Democracy -- a joint project of VoteTrustUSA, and two groups who often support progressive causes, Mainstreet Moms and Working Assets -- is asking election workers to report voting problems to the group after finishing their precinct shifts to provide evidence for potential lawsuits and recounts. And dozens of small, grass-roots groups will be watching polling stations, elections offices and tabulation centers.

Election Protection's lawyers will ask state courts to keep polls open if there are glitches, for example -- and to document problems, alert the media and gather plaintiffs for possible recount demands and lawsuits."

A special thanks to pinko, enemy of the people, and Concerned Citizen for their comments! Now, get out and vote!