Active Voting Responsibility

Republics. We automatically assume that republics are good. We associate them with freedom.
Dictatorships. We automatically assume that dictatorships are evil. We associate them with tyranny.

When viewed in certain perspectives, these assumptions are accurate; however, we must look at these governmental forms as dynamic. Government rules by consent of the people, therefore the attitudes of the people affect how government is run. Republics are weak; dictatorships are strong is only true when the populace is indifferent, the reverse is true when a population is passionate about its government.

Currently, our republic is weak. We are run by blind ideologies, greed, and the power-hungry. We are among the governments with the lowest voting record, in the 2004 election only 45% of those eligible voted compared to 96% for Australia or even 76% for our friendly northern neighbors, the Canadians. If you speak to most U.S. citizens, you will hear a pessimistic attitude when it comes to government. Our government endlessly passes new laws and funds new programs, with no improvements to show for it; meanwhile we become deeper and deeper in monetary debt to the world.

What is the solution? Well, there are two. First, we must have an attitude of change; second, we must form a new system of voting in order to ensure the survival of our political system, and society.

In terms of attitude, the people of this country must care about their society, government, and their respective futures. When less than half the country is voting you have a problem. Without an active populace participating in the government, republics are weak. We let a few corrupt individuals run us into the ground, for their benefit. We lose hope in our government, do not vote, and the spiral continues. We must take a stand, remembering the government is in our hands. Benjamin Franklin once challenged us to protect our republic, it is time we accept that challenge.

To guarantee that we do not slip into another attitude of indifference and complacence, we must increase the active voting population. In order to increase the voting population, we must use social pressure; do not treat non-voter’s arguments with the respect of reply, do not invite them to social events you are hosting. Perhaps we should add extra incentive and punishment to voting; nothing draconian, but if you do not vote at least twice in a 6 year span you lose your voting right and are not eligible for tax cuts. Remember folks, freedom is not free and voting should be a duty while living in a republic.


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