Election Day

Tomorrow is Election Day in the US. I urge everyone to go vote. I don’t care what side you are on and what you believe in - please go vote. All this arguing, complaining, and dissatisfaction means nothing if you don’t go vote. That is how you have a chance to have your say - with your vote. 

Voting

Last week my husband and I voted early (absentee – in person) because we won’t be at home on Election Day. We usually vote this way every year because we usually are never home on Election Day. 

I think casting my vote is so important. I think it does count and helps direct how our government should be run. It is so important that I’m afraid if people don’t exercise their right to vote that we would lose this right. I have visited countries where people don’t have a right to say anything about their government and are in fact worried about the consequences if they tried. How lucky we are that we have the freedom to gripe and complain if we don’t like how things are going in our country!

I hear many people who say that they won’t vote because it doesn’t matter. I say this is just a cop-out and these people are just plain lazy. The people who refuse to vote do not have the right to complain when things aren’t going the way they like in our country. Not voting is just outright laziness and these people should be ashamed of themselves.

I worry about the outcome of the election and I hope it comes out the way that I voted. If it does, I hope I can be graceful and not gloat about our success. But if it doesn’t, I did my part. I can complain and help the opposition try to win next time. Either way, I will have done my best.

I voted.

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Civics Education

I’ve recently read a couple of articles about Nebraska and Minnesota lately addressing the need for more civics education classes.

I remember when I started teaching on the high school level that students were required to take a government class in order to graduate. I don’t really know why they took this requirement out but it is really important for students to learn this information.

Students are not born knowing what their civic responsibilities are and unless we teach them while they are in school, they may never learn.

Each year during election time, I hear that fewer people get out to vote. I’m afraid it will end up like the saying goes, “use it or lose it.” Each year more and more of our rights are eroding away because people are not exercising their right to vote in order to get changes made in our government. I see a lot of apathy and misunderstanding but I feel it is society’s fault for allowing the young people to grow up with this perspective.

If we hope to have a better nation, then we need to start teaching our children how important it is to be involved in what is happening in our government. This might mean running for office or campaigning for a candidate that has the same values that the student believes in. It also includes being knowledgeable about current events and issues that affect everyone in our nation. Everyone who votes can make a difference in who gets elected which can affect what policies and laws are made in our country. We have to teach our students these things.

People shouldn’t run around and complain about our country and the way it is run if they don’t vote during election time. They shouldn’t complain about our taxes or laws if they aren’t willing to research the issues before electing legislators who will vote on these items.

I’m hoping that more and more states will recognize the need for civics education in all classrooms. I believe it should be a requirement before any student graduates from high school.

How do you feel about Civics Education? Please share.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash