Your vote, your choice

Editor:

A choice not to vote is a choice to vote for the winner.

Remember that time everyone in the division was milling about the break room and Lilly said you should go out for lunch? Sam wanted American burgers. Alexandra wanted Vietnamese pho. Drew called for a show of hands. You don’t raise yours. Then it’s settled: five for burgers and three for pho, and off you go for hamburgers.

You may have decided not to raise a hand for many reasons. Maybe you feel you don’t know enough about burgers or pho to make an intelligent decision. Maybe you don’t like conflict and would rather not take a side. Maybe you like burgers and pho equally well. Whatever your reason, you’re still stuck with the lunch the group chose. You chose to let someone else choose for you.

Granted, had you raised your hand for pho instead of burgers, burgers would still have won five to four — but at least if everyone got food poisoning from undercooked beef you couldn’t be blamed for not speaking up for pho.

It’s similar for this year’s midterm elections. Choosing not to vote means choosing to yield the decision to those who do. No matter your reason for not voting, you’re stuck with the results.  Choosing not to vote means choosing to vote for the winner. Do you really want to do that?

Maybe you don’t like either option. You may dislike burgers and pho. You probably like one more or dislike one less. And you’re still going to be stuck eating one of them. At least raise a hand before everyone else drags you off to a restaurant, orders something you don’t like, and hands you a bill for it.

 

Jonathan Gardner

Los Lunas

 

A call to discernment

Editor:

In the eight-year Revolutionary War, more than 6,100 Americans died gaining our independence from the monarchy of the English king.

The result of that war was the founding of a Republic establishing our rights as citizens, including our right to vote for those who would best lead and serve this country. Among the rights afforded by our Constitution are the right to choose one’s own religion, the protection against unwarranted government intrusion into the lives of its citizens, the right to express one’s views, the right of self -protection, and the right to assemble peacefully.

But, those who fought and died to gain those rights did not do so to procure the right to mandate schools allow little boys access to little girls’ bathrooms at the threat of withholding funding for the rest of the school; or for politicians using public funds attempting to influence our vote under the guise of “an economic stimulus;” or to allow politicians to defund and dismantle police agencies and our military.

They were a people who, through incalculable sacrifices established a republic with leaders who, for the most part, thought logically, rather than based on emotions driven by small, but powerful interest groups.

Our Constitution is a binding document assigning rights and responsibilities to both the citizens and elected officials. Along with those rights come the responsibility of discernment, not only for what is just and ethically moral for America, but what is just and ethically moral … period; the responsibility to discern truth.

It’s our responsibility to discern when a candidate claims an unearned accomplishment. Governors and presidents do not accomplish noteworthy things (good or bad) as the sole agent. Basically, legislative branches of government draft and vote on bills and funding.

Governors and presidents sign or veto those bills. An individual claiming to be the sole agent of an action is disingenuous. Should such ever become the case we will have fallen back into a monarchy, and our rights will be abated.

Some (not all) citizens, and some (not all) elected officials have not held up their side of the bargain. It’s time for both to assume their position of rights and responsibilities in our society.

Don’t just vote. Vote discerningly, seeking the truth. Vote for honest statesmen and stateswomen who don’t claim to do things they cannot, and who don’t lay claim to accomplishing things they did not.

 

J.T. Hayes

Los Lunas

 

Ticket splitter

Editor:

With my conservative values, I stand strong as a Republican. Unfortunately the party lacks discipline with its members.

If I had the power to enforce party discipline, I would ban candidates from the local to the national level that refuse to uphold the platform.

I am a ticket splitter! I will not vote a straight ticket just because you belong to the same party for which my values align.

If you choose to lie, cheat, break laws, spit on people or just be a vile person, I will not vote for you. I will vote for an independent or even a Democrat to protect my beloved county and country.

It’s time both parties practice party discipline and kick out your RINOS, DINOS and SINOS.

My county first! See you on Nov. 8.

 

Melisa Vargas

Los Lunas

 

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The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.