Responsible Voting

The right to vote, to choose our representatives, is fundamental to our form of government. Election Day & the preceding campaign season bring increased devotion & political awareness to many of us. We look for solutions in sound bites & slogans, hoping for change in a new face or new circumstances. Far too often however this renewed interest rapidly returns to complacency as life continues in monotony.  Unfortunately for society cyclical patriots, though not lacking in zeal or opinion, quickly tire & lose interest in the work of representative government.

 

I believe that our system of government is perfectly suited to address this historical trend. We routinely empower others to make decisions on our behalf, to study the issues, circumstances & people then act in our name. When we select someone to represent us it is because we perceive that they have skills, knowledge, abilities or time which we do not. We expect them to do what they feel is best & we accept that not every decision they make is precisely the one we would have made ourselves. We demand the right to vote for City, State & National representatives. We even amended the Constitution to expand this privilege. So why do we struggle w/ a more intimate application of the same principle?

 

The caucus precinct meeting is representative government at its best. Friends & neighbors meeting together to decide who among them is best suited & trusted to make decisions on their behalf. Not only during campaign & election season but year round. We seek to elect those who have sufficient time & interest to investigate candidates prior to election, to follow their actions after election & to speak up, thus holding government accountable to the people.

 

A politician removed from his constituents may more easily avoid repercussion for his actions, his vote & his lies, but it is hard to hide from your neighbors. The Caucus System provides everyone the opportunity to be involved in the selection of representatives who truly represent our views with minimal personal commitment. For these reasons, among others, the caucus system must remain.

For what it's worth