Cyndi's Two Cents
Midterm elections are important
Commentary.
I heard on the radio on my way to town the other day that voter turn-out in the upcoming general election is expected to be light because “there are no major controversies or hotly contested races on the ballot.” I was taken aback by this statement coming from a local prognosticator who understands the critical nature of the choices local citizens will be allowed to make, but also knows the deep current of apathy running through the current of America’s citizenry.
During this midterm election year, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate will be contested. Most state legislatures, more than three-quarters of the state and territorial governorships, as well as many other state, county and local races will be decided on Tuesday, November 4.
Propositions on ballots could have a direct impact on our lives. Voters in many states will decide whether or not to amend their state constitutions, the implications of which could last for many years to come.
Have you done your homework? Much is at stake, from the grassroots level in your county to the state and national level.
Too often, people tend to ignore those township or county races or measures unless they are deeply involved at the time the campaign is underway and vote is taking place. Stop and consider for just a moment, the havoc an unqualified or misinformed county commissioner could unleash when it comes to zoning and county infrastructure.
Whether electing a school board member or a county sheriff, you should consider the individual’s qualifications for the job at hand instead of how far they threw the football in the 1987 Homecoming game. It’s not a popularity contest. This is real life.
There is a lot to consider at all levels. Where do those you send to Washington D.C. stand on issues pertaining to labor, taxation, education and transportation? How will they vote or craft legislation about immigration and energy? Are you aware of the candidate’s stand on issues pertaining to the environment, national security and defense.
As I talk to listeners to our radio programs, viewers to our website, readers of this column, friends, family and industry representatives, I realize the list of concerns and issues is too long to include here. There is frustration at the state house. There is frustration with Washington. The concern over national security, Obamacare and the economy continues to grow.
Many have asked me, with issues this consuming, why should we care about the stand a candidate might take on animal welfare, horse slaughter, or what the EPA considers to be water under its jurisdiction?
Because, my friends, if agriculture is your livelihood, those you elect at the local level and those you send to Washington, and every public servant in between, had better not be in opposition to you on fundamental philosophical issues. If that is the case, you had better start looking for another job. And, with the current state of the economy in these United States of America, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Excellent!! I would vote for you!!