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Show you care about your country -- register and vote
The political season is in full swing and amid all of the talk of partisanship and sound bytes, I hope we remember the real meaning of this season -- the power of the people. The reason why all of the politicians are working so hard to influence us is because they know what we seem sometimes to forget -- that we are the real people with the power.
It's been a hard-fought battle to govern ourselves. Unfortunately, at first only white men had the power to elect that government. African American men were given the right to vote after the Civil War in 1870 with the 15th Amendment to the Constitution. It wasn't until the civil rights movement of the 1960s, however, that the right was fully and freely enjoyed.
American women struggled for decades before they won the right to vote nationally in 1920 with the ratification of the 19th Amendment. On the road to equal rights, women lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, practiced civil disobedience, paraded, held vigils and even hunger strikes.
These women realized that their voice in our government was just that important. Others have fought for us -- all we have to do is get out and vote. Voting is the great equalizer. One man (or woman), one vote. Rich or poor, young or old, beautiful, powerful, famous -- we are all equal on Election Day. The power of one vote is awe-inspiring. One vote per precinct elected John F. Kennedy over Richard Nixon in 1960. One vote precinct gave women the right to vote in California in 1911. Your vote could be the one that determines our future. Elected officials make decisions about things that are important to us.
They influence our jobs, health care, environment and security. Voting is our chance to choose those decision-makers and influence those decisions. You don't have to vote a party line. You can vote Independent, Republican or Democrat, or a little of all three, but know who or what you're voting for.
Exert your power wisely. Know the issues and what they really mean to you. Research is becoming easier with such Web sites as the League of Women Voters (http://www. lwv. org), which compares and contrasts the candidates and issues for you.
Before you can exercise your hard-fought right to vote and influence our country and future, you have to register to vote. You can register when you get your driver's license at the courthouse, or even register online. Support your country. Say "I am a United States Citizen and I care about my country. " Express you opinions. Exert the Power of One. Vote!