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Dear Editor:
I don’t know how many of you took time out of your busy schedules during these uncertain times to watch the Democratic National Conventions this week, but I did, and I hope that you did too.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I like to consider myself as an open-minded, conservative Republican and feel that it is important to stay informed on what every side has to say. I hope that the above fact does not dissuade you from reading further.
I am writing this letter to the editor because I noticed a disturbing, recurring theme in all of the “important people” speeches. Yes, I put those words in quotes because I do not believe anyone is more important than any other. We are all equally important.
These “important people” want everyone to vote early. Former President Obama called for it. Former Secretary of State Clinton called for it. Former Secretary of State Collin Powell called for it. And so far, virtually every speaker called for early voting, but why?
Could it be because they really do not want the voters to be informed before they cast their “all important” vote? If so, why would that be?
I firmly believe that voting is an important for every American. The thing I have loved about our current form of a representative republic is that we have a multi-party system (primarily two parties) where we can have each party control different branches of government. I have always said that I do not want any one party to hold all of the branches, because then there would be no compromise. In the past there was abundant compromise. This is changing quickly.
In the past, Democrats and Republicans debated, but they worked together. And we, the citizens, were able to see what they really believed and were encouraged to think critically about them and to debate and to see which side we agreed with more. Sure, we disagreed with each other. In fact, we often debated sharply, and somehow we were still able to go out and have a meal together – even though we disagreed strongly on political points.
Where is that American spirit?
It is my sincere hope that we will all really evaluate the policies that both presidential tickets hold as there are many issues that will affect our nation for years to come. In order to evaluate them, we have to know the facts. In order to know the facts, we need to not only look at the past, but to also to hear their views from their own mouths in open and honest debate.
Whether you are a Democrat, Independent, Socialist, or Republican, I hope we all will be well informed and that we will discuss and debate the policies with our friends and family members who disagree with us. Let’s not just absentmindedly vote our “party lines” or vote with uninformed emotions. This is the most important election that we have every four years: The election for President.
Stay safe and well informed.
James A. Holden
Lawrence, Ind.
James, the reason the Democrat “important people” are urging early voting is because historically we all know Republicans have used various means of suppressing the vote.
You know, like Gerrymandering, inadequate polling stations, insufficient number of machines, machines that mysteriously don’t work on Nov 3, slowing the US mail so ballots arrive too late, etc.
It’s also for safety. Who wants to stand in line for hours with fellow citizens that think masks or COVID are a joke or hoax? Who’s going to enforce masks at polls? In the line leading up to it? Social distancing? etc.
Because participation in this election is likely to be of historic proportions, due in no small part to the attack on our very democracy, it is only prudent that if you want your vote to count you can help ‘flatten the curve’ for processing and get it in early.
If however you really think something is going to change your mind in the last week leading up to election day (like another Russian/Wikkileaks data dump?) then by all means just wait and risk in-person voting.
I’ll bet you don’t hear a single GOP person this week encourage early voting, so you’re right, we should be asking ‘Why is that?’.