Winston Churchill once expressed his belief that, "The United States form of government is the worst ever devised by man … except for all the rest!"
While Churchill's eloquence acknowledges our system has its flaws, he also pays tribute to it as a shining beacon in the foggy, and all too often violent and oppressive history of our species.
For nearly four centuries, immigrants have flocked to our shores, many times at the risk of their lives, to partake of the freedoms and opportunities unique in the five million years of human history.
Surely, then, it is fair to assume its (U.S.) citizens must also cherish their society, if by no other means than by taking part in its cornerstone, the right to vote. Let's look at the score card in just one community in March 1982.
Registered Voters: 4 ,435
- Attended School District Meeting: 174 ( 3.9%)
- Attended Town Meeting: 338 ( 8.7%)
- Voted in Town Elections: 1,127 (25.4%)
Pretty sad! In fact, those figures are not appalling, they are down-right frightening.
What's even worse is that such statistics are not unique to this one town, but are representative of the average voting patterns across this country.
A society which has the opportunity to choose its own destiny, but opts not to do so may, in time, find others all too willing to make their decisions for them.
Next time you decide not to vote, think of the legacy you wish to leave to your offspring.
John C. Calhoun's admonition is worth remembering, "It's harder to preserve than protect liberty."
