by Justin Thyme, a GSL member
The will of the people through our form of government is not, as some people believe, a “democracy” otherwise known as majority rule. We are a representative republic meaning we elect people that are supposed to represent us in the various branches of government.
One of my friends suggested that laws (aside from the obvious – murder, theft, etc) have sunsets.
When a law was approaching its sunset, it would be reconsidered in the House and Senate. It could be tweaked, passed as is, or allowed to sunset. This would accomplish several things. It would provide for the law to become a better fit in its meaning and application. It would allow bad laws to pass from the scene. And, besides keeping them busy, our Congressmen and Senators would be continually showing their colors as each sun setting law came up for review.
Polling indicates that many people believe that “their guy”, in their respective seats of House and Senate, is doing a decent job. Don’t assume! Obviously many are not.
I, for one, cannot, in good conscience, vote for any of my current federal representation, senators or congressman. I am sure that in this I am not alone. If what we see in our government is the will of the people, some of our states and our nation are truly in trouble.
Check out your representative’s voting record in their respective positions. This is more than just House and Senate, there is a whole government out there that needs our input. If none are qualified to your standards, you may opt for neither rather than voting for the least of two evils.
Twentieth US President James Garfield stated, “Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature…”
If you are deficient in electronic knowledge (as I and many others are), recruit some assistance. Talk to people whose ideals and viewpoints you respect, such as neighbors, friends and family. Get their take on the candidates. “… in an abundance of counselors, there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14b ESV.
The more information you have, the better decision you can make.
Don’t be in the “my vote doesn’t count” crowd. They are right if they don’t vote. There are many incidences over the years where one or two votes changed the outcome of an election. For example, in 1920 one vote cast by Harry Burn, a young Tennessee representative, ratified the U.S. Constitution’s 19th amendment, thus giving women the right to vote.
British leader and author Edmund Burke of the Revolutionary War era stated, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
We honor the fallen on Memorial Day. Your right to vote has been preserved through generations at much expense of money, blood, and lives.
Don’t let their sacrifice go to waste. Make sure you and your like-minded friends and family take the time to vote in the November 8th general election. Motivate those like-minded folks by pushing their buttons on the issues they care most about. It might be guns, mandatory vaccinations, abortion, higher taxes, teaching sex ed to kindergarteners or any one of a number of other issues. Make them mad enough that they go vote.