There are reasons why we must vote

I've had it drummed into my head ever since I was old enough to vote that I must vote. I've never heard a single explanation of why. A lot of people think their vote is so insignificant that it won't make any difference if they vote or not.

In our form of government, all of the power is vested in the people. Each one of us that is registered to vote has a little bit of that power. That is by design. We all know what a country is like where all the power is concentrated in one person - a dictator where the only course of action is a bloody revolution. We do not need to revolt any more, because we are a free country and we have the vote and we are the last bastion to protect our democracy. Collectively we rule the United States. Oh sure, large organizations (super PACs) and wealthy individuals give a lot of money to their favorite candidates to help them win, but that money is only used to convince the voters to vote for them.

When 50 or 60 percent of the people fail to vote, all that neglected power gets concentrated in the people that do vote. If they are passionate about their issues, your issues will be forgotten. Our democracy has been attacked. Our constitution has been demeaned, the first amendment (freedom of speech and press) has been attacked. Russia attacks our form of government while pretending to have a free election. We have a precious form of government and a precious country - protect it and vote.

Dick Paulson

Grayslake