Democracy

“The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.  It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”

–     Sir Winston Churchill

“If you don’t vote, you can’t bitch and complain.”

–     Dick Heston

Tomorrow, in case you missed the 6,795 political ads you were exposed to this weekend, is election day.

On every election day from 1982 until Dad died in 2002, Mom and Dad offset each others’ votes.  I speculate that my grandmother and grandfather offset each others vote for about 60 years or so.  Heck, my sister and brother-in-law carry on the tradition today.

It cracks me up.

It also makes me appreciate what we have.

We have an obligation.

They could just stay home.  It would not impact the outcome.  But they didn’t, they don’t, they shouldn’t and they won’t.  They understand.  They “get it.”  They remember that people died and gave up fortunes and invested their whole lives building a nation where we all get to vote.

Look, that’s the best thing about a democracy; everyone gets a vote.  The worst thing about a democracy, as Churchill points out, is that everyone gets a vote.  But don’t just vote tomorrow so you can “bitch and complain” if your guy doesn’t win.  Vote because you have an obligation to engage in the debate and to try to make a difference.

A friend said recently, “My vote might actually count this year.”

I reminded him that it does.  Every year.