Would you agree that the greatest civic participation we can undertake is to vote?

Question

Regardless of the number of candidates or their shortcomings, Americans cannot expect to be adeqately represented if they are not willing to study the candidates and let their voices be heard in the voting booth.
I can still remember the first time I voted. It is not only a duty, but it is a privilege and your vote does matter. One vote may not sway an election. However, one vote, plus another vote, plus millions of votes will win one.
Few of us will ever be fortunate enough to have the honor of serving our country in government as an elected official, so it behooves us to vote for those who most closely reflect our ideals, beliefs, and opinions.

Answer 1

I totally agree with you. I am so happy that I'll be 18 by our next Presidential election. Though one vote may not be able to alter or sway the overall results, it can come close! I do believe that as US citizens, we have so many civic duties, but voting is the most essential. It's what ultimately separates us from other totalitarian dictatorships and gives the people not only a choice, but also a voice. Politicians and representatives can't get to where they are without our say-so, which is why it is so amazing to me that so many people REFRAIN from voting! Or just as bad, vote uninformed. All I have to say is thank goodness we live in such a democratic nation.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." --Voltaire

Answer 2

An EDUCATED vote is very high on the list.

The problem is that there are too many people out there who vote for people whom they have no idea where they stand on the issues.

Too many people will vote a strict party line and often not even know what that party represents, much less where the candidate lies.

Next up the list of education is believing the soundbytes of the candidate as opposed to critically examining the claim being made. If a candidate were to say "I support the troops. I voted for a pay raise." they could support this with the particular vote while ignoring that it was a vote for a lower raise than inflation or that it was also a vote against a larger raise.

Americans, you can support a candidate without supporting their entire platform. Your candidate may be the same side of the abortion issue as you are and against your position on the war or vice versa. You don't have to become an endorser of all just because your *most important* issue is best represented by the candidate.

It amazes me how many people, having bought into a particular party and therefore a particular candidate cannot admit the person has any flaws nor that the opposition has any positive points. This divisiveness is eating up our country. Both Bush and Clinton have good and bad points. It's ok to admit that.

Educate yourself on ALL the candidates and their positions this year. Educate yourself on who are enemies are and where they are. Educate yourself on what they will do if we don't fight them.

And CAST an EDUCATED VOTE!

Answer 3

Yes, I feel it is. We can get our hands dirty and help out but millions of our tax dollars are wasted every year. Cause our elected officials got in based on money not political agendas!!! Not even 2 million people vote every election, I contribute this to a couple different factors. 1) People are lazy 2) Everyone is so worry about how to get by they don't have time to follow government.(was it designed that way?) 3) Election day should be a day everyone has off if job there job allows and polls should be open from midnight to midnight so all people have an opportunity to vote. I don't mind if people don't vote just don't complain when it is not going the way you like it!!!! Hats off to the writer of this question!

Answer 4

I had my voter registration filled out before my 18th birthaday. The first thing I did when I turned 18 was mail it off. I believe in voting and voting well. By that I mean being informed. I read the ballot carefully, sometimes the wording is such that you must be carefull that a yes vote is not really a vote against. I am a conservative but I do not believe in voting strictly by party. I know some people who I don't think should vote. Should have the right to of course but shouldn't because they do not really examine what they are voting on.
Vote well, vote often, be proud to do so. Don't be afraid to vote against something you would like to support if it has flaws. For instance my state proposed increasing teacher salaries, Ok ours are low. But there was no provision to fund them. Which meant reducing the number of teachers in the schools.
I work with a woman who is 47 yr. old and has never even registered to vote. Yet she complains govt. actions. Don't vote? Shut up.

Answer 5

I think it is about the absolute minimum of civic participation. Don't get me wrong, I think it is the duty of every citizen to cast an intelligent vote and its very important, but its not enough.

People need to be actively involved in their communities and the running of them. Consider running for local office or serving on a citizens committee or being part of the neighborhood watch. Speak at career day at school even if you don't have kids. Offer to unclog the gutter for the elderly couple next door. Go to jury duty without complaining about it.

Watch what your elected officials do. Hold them accountable for their actions. Pay attention not just to what happens in Washington or the state capital, but in the city council and the school board.

Democracy is participatory government. Democracy also means realizing that we can't always have our cake and eat it too. For example, to fix the social security system either more money has to come into the system or less money has to go out or most likely some combination of the two. That's reality. Support elected officials who look for solutions and don't promise the impossible.

Answer 6

I do believe that it is a great civic participation in casting one's vote. A greater opportunity for civic participation is actually running for office.

One vote can sway a local election. I am an election custodian in my town, and in the past ten years, several local (town) offices were decided by one vote. More times than not, these little local elections are decided by less than ten votes.

Most political parties start with people volunteering their time, on a committee in their town, or local district. If you start with local issues, geared to a small contingent of the community, you have started on your way to participating in the democracy of our nation.

Answer 7

I agree with John T. I also believe if we don't participate early in the process: i.e., precinct levels, then we end up just going to the polls and voting for people who we didn't have a hand in nominating for the position. We are leaving that part of the process to others and then choosing among THEIR choices. We should be in there at the grass roots level working to get candidates that WE like and want, not candidates that "they" like and want.

Answer 8

Yes it is
Someone should tell Ted the drunk manslaughter that
as he is pushing the employment free choice act. The Act takes away the right to vote on weather to become Union/Socialist or not to become a Union/Socialist member.
Just sign the card the union thug hand you and shut up.
That is what becomes of a person bought and paid for by unions as Kennedy is along with almost all other Democrats/Socialist

Answer 9

I went to war before I was old enough to vote. I have voted in every election since. Yes it is our sacred duty.

Answer 10

Educated voting is important... but we shouldn't be content just to cast a vote. If you're intelligent, I think you have a responsibility to help educate other people. We should always try to influence the world around us in a positive way.