What does it mean to VOTE?
These are the words of my co-worker Ingrid Burgett who is from Germany and who would love to be able to vote in our elections but is not yet a citizen so she cant vote.' 'A woman told me that its my obligation to vote, I told her no, IT'S A PRIVILEDGE TO VOTE.' So yes its a priviledge to vote, especially since there are many places on Earth where people are not allowed by law to elect their leaders. China, Iran, Egypt, Libya, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the list just goes on... need I say more? I can give a few reasons why I vote: A) It's easy... it took me 30 seconds to fill out a primary election ballot on September 5th and about a second to feed it to the machine that counts the votes on my ballot. B)It's power... it may not be much but its a piece of power C) To make sure my interests are represented in an election D) It doesnt always matter so much who wins, just that I had a say in an election. E)Sometimes its fun to say 'Hey I voted for that person' when they win, especially when their policies have had a positive effect on your life or many others. F) I'd jump through hoops to get to the polling place, I'd jump through a ring of fire. Wind, rain, sleet, or hail, I'll vote. No matter how dull, boring, or heated an election is I will vote. No matter what the issues are or who the candidates are, I will vote. I've been registered to vote since September 28th, 2001 and I already have a perfect turn out record, it's not hard to do. Now I wouldnt want to put to shame all the people that fought and died for the right to vote in America and many places around the world. I know I am a white male and white males in American society have had the right to vote for some 200+ years moreso than minorities and women but still, So many women, and African Americans fought and died for the right to vote, I wouldnt want to put them to shame by not voting. Dont take it forgranted, so many millions on Earth would give up a lot for the right to vote. Look at South Africa, in 1994 it was the first election black people and all other races could vote in, they had a 90%+ turn out. Some 90 year olds waited out in the heat for days in lines at the polls just to vote, they'd waited their whole lives for the right to vote. So dont shame those that fought and died, GET OUT AND VOTE!!!! I dont care who you vote for, take the time, do the research on the candidates and pick the candidate that best represents your views or comes closest to agreeing with you, it's not hard, JUST DO IT! So on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 GET OUT AND VOTE!