A responsibility as much as a right

On Nov. 4, Americans will flock to the polls to decide the course our country will take for at least the next four years. The term “flock” seems appropriate because more than 100 million citizens will cast their votes. Yet “flock” also seems inappropriate because millions of voters will choose not to cast their ballots. In the last presidential election, 63.8 percent of Americans aged 18 or more voted. We celebrated this because the number was up from 58 percent in 1996 and 60 percent in 2000.

But take a closer look at the numbers: out of 197 million voting-age U.S. residents, just under 126 million voted in 2004. Simple math tells us that 71 million citizens chose not to exercise one of their greatest rights – and responsibilities – of a democratic society. The country that serves as a beacon of hope for residents of other countries, who come to the United States for a better life, ranks 139th in the world when it comes to voter turnout in all elections since 1945, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

Why is there such apathy when it comes to voting? It can’t be for lack of exposure. You can’t watch television for more than 15 minutes without seeing either a national or local political ad. As of August, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama had spent nearly $600 million on their combined campaigns; that number will have gone up dramatically by Election Day.

Neither can voter apathy be attributed to registration difficulties. The National Voter Registration form, available online at www.congress.org, makes it possible to register to vote in 48 of 50 states. American Legion posts across the country conduct voter-registration campaigns each year, as do other civic organizations.

I’ve heard people say that their vote doesn’t matter – that one person cannot make a difference. But look what recently happened when word got out that the Department of Veterans Affairs was considering outsourcing portions of its new GI Bill responsibilities. You wrote letters and contacted your Congressmen. You let them know that this was not acceptable. And now, the VA says it won’t outsource any portion of the bill. One person can make a difference, and so can one vote.

We are facing one of the most trying periods in U.S. history. The economy is chaotic, at best. People at or near the retirement age are finding out they can’t afford to stop working. Servicemembers just returning from active duty are finding it’s getting harder and harder to get car or home loans. We are fighting a war against terrorism –  one that needs to be taken to its conclusion. And we are facing a struggle within our borders, against those who are entering our country illegally. The nation is in the midst of a health-care crisis, with some Americans having to pick and choose between prescriptions they really need and those they can afford to buy.

Soon we will choose the leadership of this country for the next four years. The American Legion doesn’t endorse candidates; we endorse the political process. “To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the Community, State and Nation” is part of The American Legion Preamble. One obligation we have is to participate in the democratic process, and we do that by casting our votes.

The American Legion Dispatch