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Cast a ballot and quit whining

Comedian George Carlin once said that he doesn’t vote because he felt people who do vote are to blame for what is wrong. After all, he rationalized, if you don’t, how could you be blamed for getting an idiot elected to office?

While I enjoy Carlin’s routines very much, I have to disagree with him on this point. And others, too, but to keep this from turning into a novel, I will stick to the voting debate.

If you don’t vote, it IS your fault if an under qualified official takes office. Take a look at these Emmy award winning excuses:

Excuse 1

“I didn’t vote in the last election because I just didn’t feel like going to the polls and dealing with all the lines,” John Doe said. “And my wife Jane didn't vote either.”

See, right there are two votes that didn’t get cast. So, he didn’t feel like dealing with the lines at the polls? Well, there are two easy alternatives:

  • Vote early – Most places that I know of allow you to cast your vote long before the procrastinators make it there on Election Day.
  • Get to the polls early – In the August Election, I was at the polls at 7:15 a.m., right after they opened. Now, I am not going to pretend to be an early bird, and I did have to stand in line when I got there. But, only for two to three minutes.

    Excuse 2

    “You saw what happened in 2000,” John Doe II said. “That should make it obvious that ONE vote DOESN’T count.”

    This is just plain stupid. Heaven forbid there be a close election where Candidate A wins by a single vote. It has happened. It did here in Martin a couple years back, in a county commission race. To use sports as a reference, by how many runs did the Diamondbacks win in game seven of the 2002 World Series?

    ONE. Ask the Yankees, or any sports fan, if “one” doesn’t count.

    Excuse 3

    “I didn’t like either of the candidates running,” John Doe III said. “So, I just decided to be done and make my voice heard that way.”

    Not as stupid as Excuse 2, but close. So, neither of the candidates floats your boat? Sink their’s.

    Just because their name is on the ballot, it does not mean the little chad has to be punched.

    I think a woman at the last Dresden board meeting summed it up best by saying just because there was only one name on the ballot, it didn’t mean that the people wanted them.

    Besides, on most ballots, there is a little line where you can write someone else’s name in. Maybe one write-in vote won’t help (it can), but if you really think someone besides the approved candidates would do the job better, get off your lazy butt and convert others.

    Excuse 4

    “I am not registered here and I don't feel like driving home just to vote,” said John Doe IV said.

    So what? You have two options here. Register here – It’s not rocket science, folks. It’s just cheese and crackers.

  • Go home and vote – Sure, my hometown is only 45 minutes away and some people live across the state, or in other states.

    But, if you hear of a good idea, like the lottery or liquor-by-the-drink being proposed, it might actually benefit you to cast your vote one way or the other.

    After all, you may go home after you walk the aisle here. And, if you are not registered, or just don’t vote, I don’t want to hear you crying either way.

    You could have helped Tennessee get a state lottery or prevent it. You could have helped make changes in the way your city is run. But, did you? No. All because you didn't vote.

    And, for all the students who are registered here in Martin and Weakley County – Let’s make it to the polls this November and make our voices heard.

    I know there are things on the ballot you and I both want. Vote for them. Vote for the candidates. Basically, just vote. Then you can have the right to cry if you don’t get what you want.

    J.R. Peevyhouse is a staff reporter for the Weakley County Press in Martin as well as a senior Communications major.