Each year during the autumn season the ritual of voting vies for our attention. This ritual, is held by the traditions of our founding fathers - the harvest was in; a trip to the village green or town common would be a nice entertainment; and choosing official who address our grievances was worth the effort.
The folks in the picture are standing at the polls where I have been registering my vote for the past thirty or so years. In the background is the polling place - a school building. Some of these folks are neighbors and some of them are friends. But they all believe in the process of democracy.
Both of the newspapers (old media) that I read daily, the Boston Globe and the New York Times registered front page stories of the local elections. The office of city mayor was being contested in both cities. Therefore, stories of the candidates were on the front page. The local issues, which form the grist of most town elections, if reported, would be buried on the back pages of these papers. The local issues, police and firefighter raises; taxes and profligate officials; schools and MCAS scores are local issues and are generally decided by 20 to 30 percent of the electorate.
The national general election of Fall 2008 drew just over 60% of voters to the polls. Were it that local issues, which directly effect communities, would draw that many to the polls. But democracy and democratic ideals gives the populace a choice - participate and feel a part of the process or don't particpate........... but do not complain!
JOS
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