Now that elections are over, did you cast a vote?Date: 11/5/2019 As you read this, the elections will be over and unfortunately because of our printing schedule, only one of our editions will have the results of the election this week.
It’s not our fault – it’s the schedule from our printers.
We will have coverage of the winners and losers and what the results mean in the long term in our next papers. Until then I have a question for you: did you vote?
I hope the answer is “yes,” but I’m very concerned the answer is “no.” This year there was only two communities with compelling mayoral races – Chicopee and Westfield – and city council races, not matter how important, seldom are an effective driver to compel voters to the polls, even though they should be.
People usually trot out that the reason they don’t vote is because the results don’t matter. I would disagree. Even in a community such as Springfield where the mayor’s race was a lop-sided one, the city council race was very important.
I’ll let you in on a secret: being a journalist covering politics is an interesting exercise, as on one hand many reporters I know may be cynical but still have a purist’s heart beating deep within their chests. They want the system to work and they want people to participate. They may not readily admit this belief, as it’s our jobs to be jaded, but many of us see that when the system works the benefits are amazing.
Of course some of us are just cynical.
The great newspaper writer and editor H.L. Menken wrote much about our system of government. He observed, “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.”
Here’s another thought from Menken: “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”
Okay, maybe Menken did not have a secret soft side.
When the system doesn’t work is when people don’t participate. When people fail to pay attention to issues and neglect to go to the polls, is when the system fails.
In this age of social media some people have confused complaining online as a substitute for actual involvement, including voting.
Another of my journalistic gods, Ambrose Bierce, defined politics in the following way: “A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.”
Politics ultimately is a test of mobilization. Can a candidate or a cause motivate supporters to come to the polls? Getting the true believers there is just as important, if not more, than convincing fence sitters to pick a side.
For the system to win, we need to participate. If not, we don’t deserve to complain.
Your turn
I’m interested in what you think. Help us settle some friendly arguments here in the ink-lined offices of Reminder Publishing.
When it is too early to display Christmas decorations?
When should a kid realize he or she is too long in the tooth to go trick or treating?
Dunkin’ or Starbucks or some other coffee purveyor?
Send your answers to news@thereminder.com.
And thank you!
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