Time to get up and cast your vote.

Every year we are barraged with television ads, mail and now social media chock full of party rhetoric.  If we are honest with ourselves, the reason that so much money is spent on “getting out the vote” is because so few of us take the time to do just that.  Vote.

If you know me you know I am a loyal Republican.  I believe that the government does not belong in my home, I believe that the government does not belong in my pockets.  I want to be clear that although I am loyal to the beliefs of my party, I am not blindly loyal to those who run under the Republican title.  I have learned a lot in my years as a party activist.  Mostly I learned that everyone has a reason they run for public office.  For some it may be because they are driven to serve, for others it may be the need to be contrary to an individual or group.  There are also those who run for the basic desire for the salary an office pays or to better their own personal profit margins.  The trick is to look past the speechifying, get the facts and make your choice.

When the first Continental Congress was convened in September of 1774 it was to bring the colonies together to discuss, debate and determine the course of action that they would take to ensure their rights as colonists of England.    They were being treated unfairly by King George III and felt that they had no voice in their future and direction.

That first assembly of the Continental Congress was 238 years ago.  I have to wonder if the delegates from the colonies were ever tempted to allow their own personal goals and ideals to overrule their desire to serve and find solutions for the common good.  Isn’t that human nature?  Or is this a more modern reason that many are involved in politics?

I am an idealist,  I believe that most of us still get goose bumps at the playing of the National Anthem and fly the American Flag with pride.  I also know that as a society we are so busy succeeding that we don’t take the time to reflect on history to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not replayed.   I have participated in the replaying of the old only to come to the same conclusion.  I am wiser now.

Each year you are given the opportunity to choose, to select your representation.  Whether it is your local elected municipal government, your school boards, your state representatives, and your federal representatives to the President of the United States the choice is yours to make.  It is a disservice to the men and women who stood 238 years ago to fight for this right is you consciously choose not to speak with your vote.

Ask the hard questions, ask them why they want this job, listen to all sides with an open mind and then choose.  It is your right and it is your responsibility, because we really are all in this together.