Don’t Forget To Vote!
Yes, your vote does count!

By Jim Evans

Every national election is contentious, but this year’s up-coming presidential election looms as, perhaps, one of the most acrimonious in recent memory — perhaps ever, according to some pundits.

A certain amount of mudslinging is, of course, common in all political campaigns. But after all is said and done, most politicians seem to have the uncanny ability to bounce back — to smile, shake hands, congratulate each other on a hard-fought campaign, let bygones be bygones, and start priming for the next election (especially if they are in the same party) or fade into the sunset with their comfortable government-paid pension.

Just recall the reconciliation of George W. Bush and John McCain after the 2000 Republican primaries and the similar and more recent reconciliation of John Kerry and John Edwards after the 2004 Democratic primaries. Apparently, even the most vicious accusations and campaign carping can be forgiven among party loyalists after the heat of battle.

However, it is probably safe to say that after this year’s election, Bush and Kerry will not become fishing buddies or pen pals. The level of rancor in this year’s election has already exceeded any previous boundaries of civility, and voters are left with the difficult task of sifting through the muck of allegations and counter allegations and the usual political gobbledygook to make an informed decision on Election Day, which is easier said than done.

Voters owe it to themselves to be as informed as possible before the election, but a careful examination of this year’s Republican and Democratic platforms can be an exercise in futility. Both platforms sound impressive with their flowery descriptions and platitudes of what each party is going to do for the American people. Unfortunately, everything is purposely worded in vague generalities to appeal to the emotions without being specific, but they do provide voters with at least an overview of each party’s position (www.GOP.com and www.dems2004.org).

This year, in particular, the parties and their candidates tout a greater variety of individual issues in their respective platforms in an effort to lasso voters. They know that, especially this year, voters are more divided than ever on specific social issues such as abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, prayer in schools and more. The parties know that they don’t have to sell some individual voters on the entire platform but, perhaps, only on a single issue to earn their vote.

There are also “character” issues in-volving Bush and Kerry that may decide the election for many voters. The now infamous “527” organizations have spent millions of dollars trying to influence voters by focusing on Kerry’s anti-war stance during the Vietnam conflict, Bush’s alliance with the Saudis, Kerry’s war record, Bush’s National Guard service, Kerry’s “flipflopping” during his 20 years in the Senate, and Bush’s personal war against Iraq without evidence of weapons of mass destruction or terrorist activity. Perhaps Ralph Nader should consider a platform based solely on character?

In the coming weeks, voters will have the opportunity to view the two major candidates in televised “debates” in a carefully controlled format designed to protect both candidates from exposing too much of themselves and to see who can answer the fewest questions with the most important-sounding hyperboles. And of course, the makeup artists and fashion designers will be working hard back-stage to make their candidates look presentable to the television audience — a lesson learned from the 1960 debates between Nixon and Kennedy — and some voters undoubtedly will be swayed by the personal appearance of the candidates.

Voters are ultimately left with the choice of having to vote for SOMEONE or not vote at all. Either choice is, in effect, a vote for one candidate or the other, because even a “no vote” means one less vote for one candidate, which is the same as a net vote for the other candidate. Sadly, even a vote for Ralph Nader is ultimately a vote for one of the other two candidates — which really goes against the grain for some independent voters who already feel disfranchised by our two-party system.

Voters of every political persuasion occasionally object to not having better choices in some presidential elections when faced with a choice between sometimes less-than-ideal candidates. But the fact remains that voters in America still have a choice — however limited that choice might seem at times — and they still have the privilege of voting or not voting, a privilege denied, even today, to many people in the world. The privilege of voting also infers an obligation to make an informed choice. In that regard, voters have more information available to them than ever before to help make a truly educated and substantive decision. Voting is an awesome privilege — and responsibility — for a free society.

Nov. 2, 2004, will be another important day in our nation’s history. The Ramona Home Journal encourages readers to vote in this historic election.

To vote in California:

• You must be registered to vote at least 15 days prior to the election.

• You must be a U.S. citizen.

• You must be a California resident.

• You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the election.

• You must not be imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony.

• You must not be currently judged mentally incompetent by a court of law.