The Rogue Parent

It’s Election Day 2008, This is Why I Voted.

This morning I got to my polling location just before 7:00 am on a drizzly cold morning thinking I’d beat the crowds to do my most important civic duty, vote.  Little did I know that at least 300 like-minded patriots were thinking the very same thought.  At first I was just a little frustrated, I’ve got a busy day ahead of me and this was going to put me behind schedule.  Very quickly, as I started to see the people walk by proudly displaying their “I Voted” sticker, I started to realize…

Countless lives have been lost over the past 232 years to give us the right to wait in a line and push a button.  It’s the most important button in the world and controls the fate of over 300 million Americans. If you’re eligible, you better get down to the polls and do your duty.  Here’s why…

You can’t complain if you didn’t vote. If you don’t think it’s worth your time to help decide the direction of the country then there’s not much for you to complain about if it’s not going the way you like.  Stand up, let your one voice combine with millions of others to shape the country.

There’s important local choices on the ballot too. In my case, I voted for a one cent increase on sales tax for 15 years to improve schools and in turn get a sizable reduction on my property taxes.

Your children are watching your behavior. You’re the one to teach the little ones what it means to be an American and the great responsibility that every citizen has to vote.

You can score a free Starbucks. That’s right, if you’re sporting an “I Voted” sticker you’re in for a free Starbucks coffee, free Krispy Kreme donut and all kinds of other freebies at local businesses.  Let’s say you make minimum wage, with the sticker you earn for standing in line to vote, you’re looking at making at least $10 in goodies.

It’s your job! Wars have been fault, people have died, sacrifices have been made, lives have been ruined; all in the name of preserving democracy and you’re right to vote.  You having to stand in line for a little longer or have to go out of your way is NOTHING compared to those who have given us this opportunity.

So if that guy in line ahead of you is smelly or the lady behind you is yapping on her cell phone, too bad.  If that’s the only price you’ll ever have to pay for the most powerful right in the history of mankind, consider yourself lucky.

Got some more reasons?  Comment below.