Are You a Shameful Citizen?

If you are not interested in politics SHAME ON YOU!  If you have not voted in years SHAME ON YOU!  If you have not had a conservation around the dinner table with your family about politics SHAME ON YOU.  Our country and county are in the shape we are in because too few of us are interested in our government.  It is a shame that the citizens of this great nation could care less about their local governments.

It is a well known fact that, in politics, you can get the most done at the county level. That means that the things that affect you the most are taken care of by your city, county, and state elected officials.  Yet, year after year a mere 20 percent of the registered voters turn out to vote in a local election.  SHAME ON US! 

"Well, I just don't want to get involved!"  "I can stand politics- they are all crooks!"  "I never vote so I won't get called for jury duty."  "The lines are too long and besides, I work!"  I have heard them all and to tell you the truth, I am glad those citizens don't go vote!  If they did go to vote, they would have some control over my life. Let's face it, who wants a lazy, uninvolved, judgmental, and uninformed person voting?  Do you really want a person who is ill informed to make an important decision that is going to affect your life or your wallet? 

You have heard the old joke, "You know what they call a med student that graduates with a 4.0, don't you---A DOCTOR!"   "You know what they call a med student that graduates with a 2.25, don't you----A DOCTOR!"  Does it make sense to allow a doctor to operate on your family that graduated with a C- ?  Well, whom do you want working on your family member, the doctor with the 4.0 or the doctor with a 2.25?  We each remember the difference between that class member that was at the top of the class and the student that just has a hard time at school. Our country and county is SICK!  We need a doctor!  We need some good old fashion medicine to cure what is ailing us.  We need educated, active, and involved voters going to the polls this November. 

Is it wrong of me to not want a 2.5 citizen voting on my future? Well, is it?  I feel the same way about politics as I do about choosing a doctor.  I don't want a lazy, uninformed, judgmental, uninvolved, citizen casting a vote that will affect my life, do you? 

Apathy is not a bad thing when you think about it.  Apathy is keeping millions of uninformed and lazy citizens from casting a vote that may damage my business, my finances, my community, or my family.   Our founding fathers were willing to give up their farms, their land and their very lives for the freedoms we take for granted.  People today are to busy to even register to vote, let alone take 15 minutes to cast a ballot defining their beliefs.   "The lines are too long!"  The last three times I went up to the street to vote, it took less than seven minutes - I watched my phone to see how long it took!  How about we knock a few of those lazy & uninvolved citizens off the poll rolls and let the real citizens make the decisions!  Whom should have the right to vote after all?  Let’s look at this voting thing in a new light!  If we were to put restrictions on voting rights, we could get this country and comunity back on track.  What do you think?  Let’s start with the following...

1. If you don't vote for eight years straight--you should be black listed from the rolls. 

2. If you commit a serious crime--you should not be able to vote.

3. If you are found guilty of political corruption--you should not be able to vote.

4. If you are impeached--you should never be able to vote.

5. If you are on government welfare--you should not be able to vote.

6. If you do not own land--you should not be able to vote.

7. If you are unemployed--you should not have the right to vote.

8. If you are divorced--you should not have the right to vote for three years.

9. If you do not serve jury duty--you should not have the right to vote.

10. If you do not serve two years in the service to this country--you do not vote.

NOW WAIT JUST A MINUTE!  HOLD UP THERE!!!!  Should I stop there, have I hit a nerve?  If we begin to limit the right to vote, the right to vote may go back to being a precious comodity. Voting is like a truly beautiful woman or a faithful man, they are rare. They are desired. They are fought over.  Is not your country more important that a beautiful woman or faithful man?  A precious item will hold more value to you than a common item.  Because voting is now a common right, it has lost its value to most citizens.  

When women, blacks, and non land owners were not allowed to vote, they fought for the right to vote yet, today only 20 percent of voters ever take the time to drive up to the polling place and cast their ballots.  Maybe it is time we make voting a thing of value again.   

It seems to me that this year would hold value to millions of citizens that have, in the past, not voted.  If you have lost your job - VOTE!  If you have lost your house - VOTE!  If your property values have fallen - VOTE!  If your mortgage is under water - VOTE! If your retirement egg cracked - VOTE!  If your children are not getting the education you are paying for - VOTE!  If your taxes keep going up and your services are being cut - VOTE!  If you have never voted before - VOTE!  If you have an 18 year old - TAKE THEM TO VOTE!  

The family is the first teacher of government. What are you teaching your children?  Do they know what the first Tuesday in November is?  Do you? Do you talk about politics at your dinner table?  If you eat on the run, do you talk about the election when you pass a political sign on the road side?  Are you a good role model of an active citizen to your children, friends, and neighbors?  Will you be 'Wearing the Peach," this election season?  

If you have not registered to vote yet, come to the Stars and Strikes on HWY29/GA8 at the corner of HWY316 this Thursday, June 14th, from 6-9pm and register to vote. The MMDO is hosting a Voter Registration Drive.  After registering, stick around and listed to the four men that want your vote, as they run for Gwinnett’s District 3 Commissioner.  It is a simple thing.  It is an important thing.  It is a thing of value.  Will you be there?  P.S. Did you know that one of the 10 above listed is a valid reason for not being able to vote currently? DO you know which one it is?