Letter to the Editor

Priorities and principles

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Dear Editor,

There is an unchanging principle of the life politic: “You get the government you deserve.”

Most Americans know well the adage. However, apparently the majority of Nebraskans are either ignorant of, or else indifferent to this axiom. I would be surprised to discover that our state’s residents possess so insufficient a schooling in civics as to be oblivious to this truth. It must then be the case that the majority of Nebraska’s eligible voters are indifferent to participate in the franchise that so many Americans gave their lives to win and preserve for us. Tragic is the irony that the citizens of Iraq demonstrate a greater willingness and pride to vote than do many Americans. In that context there exists another truism: “Hard times make for hard men; hard men create good times; good times make for soft men; soft men create hard times.”

Since 1978, I have voted in every election – local, state, and national. In Nebraska’s recent primary election, according to the Secretary of State, voter turnout was 32 percent of the electorate. Political insiders tell me this is a “record” for a Nebraska primary. Are they kidding? Thirty-two percent is pathetic; and I best not hear a shadow of complaint from Nebraskans who failed in their civic duty.

We surely do get the government we deserve – and particularly when people could care less to walk the few blocks, or drive across town to their local polling station, and cast their ballot for the individuals who will have the greatest impact on their life, and the lives of their children.

What irks is the majority of people, who will not journey a relatively short distance so to exercise the right to elect their political leaders, will cheerfully drive 300 miles to watch a Husker football game. Similarly, they will travel to another town or city to watch their children or grandchildren participate in athletic competition. For this satisfaction they will happily pay almost any price.

Perhaps, as an incentive, Nebraska’s Secretary of State should arrange the distribution of free tickets to a Husker game. To crank up the competitive spirit, the SOS could give autographed Husker footballs to those Nebraskans who vote in four consecutive elections. We could maybe convince candidates to donate some portion of their campaign funds to offset the costs of these “ballot prizes.” I’ll wager we’d then get at least 75 percent voter turnout, if the reward for doing one’s civic duty was not just the trivial matter of who runs the government, but a guaranteed FREE ticket to Husker football game … Because “GO BIG RED!” obviously has a more loyal fan base than “GO BIG RED, WHITE and BLUE!”

If only I were joking about employing such tactics; but, as was revealed by this past election and others previous, there is a painfully more applicable axiom at work in the Cornhusker State: in the contest between sporting events and election events, too many Nebraskans have their priorities backwards.

“Nebraska – it’s not for everybody.” Apparently, the same motto holds true for voting. And, if that be the case, then here is yet another principle that Nebraskans should well learn: Do not expect a return to “the Good Life,” if you cannot bother taking the time to return to the voting booth. Again, the one principle of the life politic that never changes: “You get the government you deserve.”