Failing to Vote is Un-American (Afr-Amer Scribe Switches Parties, Tired of Being Taken Advantage Of)

NY Daily News ^ | 01/02/04 | Karen Hunter

[NYC Republican]

On an Election Day when I was about 10 years old, my home was in an uproar because there were just 10 minutes left before the polls closed and my mother had not voted yet. She hadn't forgotten, but the time had gotten away from her. She rushed out and voted in time. Neither one of my parents, as far back as I can remember, ever missed voting, whether it was a local, state or federal election. Voting wasn't an option, it was a must. It wasn't drilled into me, but it was something I understood. When I finally got the opportunity during my sophomore year in college, I was excited. It was my rite of passage - my entrance into real adulthood.

My parents, to their credit, never influenced my decision about whom to vote for. In fact, one was a registered Republican, the other a registered Democrat. I was able to consider all sides objectively.

So it was a bit of a jolt to me when on Tuesday, during my morning call-in show on WWRL, a caller said, "It doesn't matter whether or not I vote, so why bother?"

Actually, I shouldn't have been surprised. I know several people in their 30s who have never voted because of the same attitude. But it is an attitude that threatens to undermine the democracy of this great country.

More than 100 million eligible voters sat out the presidential election in 2000. Even more are expected to stay home in 2004. "Why bother?" they ask.

If you are one of those who stayed home in the past or if you are thinking about doing so this year, perhaps you should consider citizenship in another country. To not vote is not only un-American, it is to spit in the face of people like Medgar Evers and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who gave their lives so that everyone in this country could have the right to vote.

If you feel the system isn't working, how about rolling up your sleeves and doing something about it? I did. A few months ago, I decided to change my party affiliation. I was tired of feeling that my vote was taken for granted because more than 90% of the members of my race happen to vote the same way. I know what I did is a small thing, but it gave me a sense of empowerment - the feeling that politicians will have to work for my vote and can't assume they have it automatically.

What difference can one vote make? In Vermont in 1997, Sydney Nixon apparently was elected a state representative by one vote, 570 to 569. But he resigned when a recount determined that he had actually lost to his opponent, Robert Emond, 572 to 571.

Not every election comes out that way, of course. But the old saw is true - every vote counts. Including yours.

[NYC Republican]

Excellent. One small step... If only others follow suit.

[NYC Republican]

It would be great if some of you would e-mail your support for her actions... I surely will.

khuntercolumn@aol.com

[NYC Republican]

Please change switces to switches. Thanks

[laotzu]

"politicians will have to work for my vote and can't assume they have it automatically"

A requirement each of us should passionately enforce.

[jocon307]

"In fact, one was a registered Republican, the other a registered Democrat."

This is interesting too. A very nice piece, I hope it gets re-run closer to the election, any election as a matter of fact.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

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[WaterDragon]

I don't see anything in the article that the part of your heading in parenthesis could possibly refer to.

[WaterDragon]

Bad me! NOW I see it! Excellent article! Thanks.

[maxwellp]

Some years ago I read an article in a newspaper that stated "When the American people vote for a President, the whole world watches very carefully." And so many Americans don't bother to vote. Fools.

[billhilly]

Your wish was my command. I have written to Karen Hunter and expressed my gratitude for her public expression of age old truth by virtue of her action.

[NYC Republican]

Great. Thanks!

[Protagoras]

To not vote is not only un-American,

This is nonsense IMO.

[No Dems 2004]

Excellent news. I honestly cannot understand why the blacks are so solidly Democratic when the Democrats ignore their positions on so many issues. For instance, blacks are solidly opposed to gay marriage, strongly disapprove of sodomy and analyses show that the worst insult to a black man by another is to call each other gay. Yet, homosexuality is deified by the Dims, in spite of receiving 90% of the black vote. And, on abortion, blacks are also quite strongly opposed.

When are the cracks going to start showing in the voter allegiance?? When are the blacks going to wake up and realize just how short-changed they've been by the Democrats who treat them as slaves.

It's time to wake up, brothers.

[Katya]

I frankly don't care that half the country doesn't vote. I am of the mind that those who do vote are in some way following the election process and see that they have a stake in it. Just registering morons to vote who don't have a clue would probably hand the dementocrats even more votes.

[cfrels]

Agree. I want only people who have spent a little effort learning the issues and the candidates to vote.
and I would hope they would skip over ones that they weren't familiar with.

[inquest]

There's nothing wrong with people not voting. The fewer who vote, the more power that will devolve to those of us who do. Why should we be clamoring for a dilution of our power?

As far as I'm concerned, if people are apathetic about the country, they should be staying home. What value could they possibly bring to an election? They'll just end up voting for someone who promises them the most instant gratification.

[spintreebob]

There's nothing wrong with people not voting. The fewer who vote, the more power that will devolve to those of us who do

Here in Illinois the Dims work hard to register their voters. Conservatives have not made an effort to register theirs since '94. The result is that many conservatives have taken themselves out of the game and conceded to the Dims before the election even occurs.

Some of us are trying to work to change it. But it is an uphill fight to convince our friends that they can make a difference.

[vpintheak]

You are wrong, the less people voting, means more power in the hands of the government, not us. Yes people should be educated, but I would rather see people vote, than to see an even faster erosion of our constitution.

[NYC Republican]

Excellent points!

[manic4organic]

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