So it is election day again in Ohio. The May primary season comes to a head tonight, and all the annoying commercials, leaflets, fliers, and junk mail will cease tomorrow. Tomorrow we will know how everything turned out. We will be able to bask in the glow of a new mandate from the elctorate that should guide our republic going forward. We will be able to grasp firmly the will of the people on a broad array of issues confronting Ohioians.
Regardless of how you feel about politics, you have to marvel at a republic that peacefully decides how they shall be governed. You have to stand in awe that unlike so many other countries the world over, the American tradition of democracy is both vibrant and strong. Troops are not required to guard polling places, or protect the citizenry from the dangerous actions of the radical nut jobs. That isn't meant to say that we don't have radical nut jobs in this country, because we do. We just don't have to defend our electoral process from them. We invite them into our system, and if the crop of elected officials in this country is any indicator, we've had success bringing them into the process. Our elections aren't without arguements or controversy by any means. We just never need tanks or machine guns on the streets to solve them. We are able to resolve the problems that confront our elections through a reasonably fair, and objective process that is usually transparent and usually embodies the principles upon which our nation was founded. We are able to disagree about the process without killing each other doing it. My challenge to you today, isn't to agree or disagree with me. It is to look at your sample ballot which can be found on the Ohio Secretary of State's website, and look at your choices. I urge you to look closely at what and who is on your ballot. And make an informed decision on the subjects that it embodies. After having taken the ten minutes to do that... GO VOTE!!! Elections are decided by who shows up. If you want the bitching rights tomorrow about how it turned out, you have to go vote today. The polls in Ohio close today at 7pm. If you don't know where you can find your polling place, check your county board of election's website and you can locate it easily. Have a good day. |