In America, we have the right to completely abandon ourpolitical power.
It's really easy. In fact, it's easier than holding on to thatpower.
All you have to do is avoid polling places on the first Tuesdayafter the first Monday of November. That's today.
Those who vote will choose the mayor and City Council membersfor this city. They will decide the future of Muncie — forall of us.
Every student has a stake in the outcome of this election. Wedrive on Muncie roads. We rely on the Muncie police and firedepartments. We eat in restaurants governed by Muncie laws,including the proposed smoking ban. We live in houses andapartments subject to Muncie regulations.
Nevertheless, many students will reject the power to influencethe city we live in.
Contrary to bumper-sticker wisdom, they will not lose the rightto complain about government actions. That right is guaranteed.
What they will lose is any ability to convince leaders to makelife better for the Ball State community.
When a politician — say, the mayor of Muncie — hasto make a tough choice, he or she doesn't particularly care whatnon-voters think. After all, it doesn't matter whether they agreewith the eventual decision or not because they weren't going toplay any role in helping the politician achieve re-electionanyway.
The only public opinion that matters from a political standpointis the opinion of the public that makes decisions in the votingbooth.
To have any influence at all over decisions that govern yourlife, you must go to your polling place today.
And please, if you decide not to, don't say you're expressingyour dissatisfaction with the candidates or the two-party system.Failure to show up doesn't express anything.
If you want to show your displeasure, go to the polling place.Get your ballot. Walk into the booth. Close the curtain. Read theballot. If there honestly isn't a single candidate you support,then turn the ballot back in — completely blank.
That sends a signal. That shows politicians that you aren'tapathetic — you're just not happy with your choices.
It tells the winners that they should still consider your viewswhen making decisions — they might win your vote the nexttime. It tells other candidates — even those running forother offices in future elections — that they should payattention to you during the campaign.
If you aren't happy with the two major parties or theircandidates, this is the way to make your voice heard.
Otherwise, they'll keep running the same kinds of men and womenand winning the same offices. They'll keep expecting their votersto get excited about candidates that can read and speak in mostlycomplete sentences. They'll keep forcing us to pick the "lesser oftwo evils."
But if enough of us show that there is a huge block of unclaimedvoters just waiting for a candidate and a party to speak to us,every incumbent and candidate will sit up and take notice.
Then we'll see change. Then we'll have candidates that speak toour concerns, that are able to excite us, motivate us, challenge usand lead us.
In the meantime, go to your polling place. The people who showup make the decisions.
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