Because it's our only voice

I don't  normally get on a soapbox.  I don't have the speaking skills that people will listen to.  But a friend of mine wrote this the other day and it's well worth passing on.  

 

 

 Why you must vote this year!

 

 

If you have no other reason, how about for people like me? I've been living in poverty for eight years and am just above being the working poor right now and my youngest niece has diabetes - a pre-existing condition.

 

If a Republican takes the White House, the Affordable Care Act will be defunded into oblivion or eliminated outright. And that means millions of people will lose their health care and because of that some may lose their lives.

How about for your daughters?

If Republican takes the White House, do you really believe what's left of Roe v Wade will stand? And that means a woman's right to choose is on the line. Hospitals are already treating women who have tried to use coat hangers to end their pregnancies. Do you think it won't get worse?

How about for the troops?

The Republicans have been trying to privatize the VA for years now. As it is they can't seem to understand that cutting veterans benefits while ramping up for war is heinous.

How about for the animals, the insects, the forests - the planet?

Do you think a Republican is going to care about the environment? The EPA has a hard enough time as it is trying to enforce regulations. Forget it if someone like Trump or Cruz gets into office.

How about for low income people who can't afford to save for retirement? 

Social Security is one of the prime targets of Republicans. Senior citizens, according to Rachel Maddow, were just about the only low income people who didn't fall further down the hole during the recession.

How about for all the people who don't have the advantages of anyone who is making a decent living and is in good shape overall?

It's easy to sit back and say "I won't vote for anyone" when the impact on the day to day life of that non-voter might be, frankly, minimal. The impact on the rest will be massive.

This can't be just about Wall Street and the elites. It has to be about everyone. And not voting won't help anyone.

And do you seriously think that any of those authors had it in mind to discourage one person in this country from voting? Especially when the stakes are so damn high.

How about for your daughters?

If republican takes the white house, do you really believe what's left of Roe v Wade will stand? And that means a woman's right to choose is on the line. Hospitals are already treating women who have tried to use coat hangers to end their pregnancies. Do you think it won't get worse?

How about for the troops?

The Republicans have been trying to privatize the VA for years now. As it is they can't seem to understand that cutting veterans benefits while ramping up for war is heinous.

How about for the animals, the insects, the forests - the planet?

Do you think a republican is going to care about the environment? The EPA has a hard enough time as it is trying to enforce regulations. Forget it if someone like Trump or Cruz gets into office.

How about for low income people who can't afford to save for retirement? 

Social Security is one of the prime targets of Republicans. Senior citizens, according to Rachel Maddow, were just about the only low income people who didn't fall further down the hole during the recession. 

How about for all the people who don't have the advantages of anyone who is making a decent living and is in good shape overall?

It's easy to sit back and say "I won't vote for anyone" when the impact on the day to day life of that non-voter might be, frankly, minimal. The impact on the rest will be massive.

This can't be just about Wall Street and the elites. It has to be about everyone. And not voting won't help anyone.

 

 

 

These words are real.  Friends and family have to look at what keeps them saying 'my vote doesn't count.'  It's the only voice we have to rein in people in power who are only interested in themselves.  If we remain silent, the power brokers win. 

 

 Whatever rights we still have in this country continue to disappear because the average adult won't bother to get involved in running our government.  The majority of the American public says 'leave me alone'.  In this case we can't afford to be left alone.  There are people with money saying 'fine, we'll leave you alone.'  You can die without health care, food, education or homes.  And the power brokers will say 'great, more for me.'  

 

Education used to teach civil rights, civil duties and civil obligations.  That hasn't happened in a long time.  The younger generation is coming up not knowing their rights or obligations to be a citizen.  If it's not on the Internet or their cellphone it doesn't count.  We have to step up and keep the rights of a citizen alive.  One of those rights as an American is to vote.  If you give that up or don't care enough to be involved the United States continues to slide downhill.  Your grandchildren will pay the price long after we're gone.