voting

If you're not planning to vote in November, remember that among those who do vote, your non-vote means that you have agreed to everything or anything the rest of us decide with our votes. No quibbling. Or complaining. If you want to complain, vote.

greetings from your Uncle Sam

     Too many young people don't really know what they need to do in order to register to vote. They often try to register when it is too late. Since Uncle Sam now knows when everyone turns 18, perhaps he could send each of our young people a birthday greeting, including instructions on how to register to vote.If this needs to be handled by the states, Uncle Sam could share just that much Social Security information.

a reason to vote

     Can we at least have a little sticker that says "I voted" handed out at the polls? The kind they use when someone gives blood?  Employers could give anyone with a sticker an hour, or some other perk. Restaurants could offer a deal to anyone with a sticker.
     And remember, if you don't vote, you don't get to complain.

voting, voting everywhere

    I get a lot of e-mail that involves voting--for my favorite product, meal, room, etc. I don't mind the voting, but I would like to see more participation in political elections. So here's a suggestion for advertisers and promoters; how about offering a freebie or discount to people who vote, especially for the first time? Poll watchers could hand out little stickers, or give each voter a bar code.

where are your papers?

     We have all seen this in old movies--particularly World War II movies--a soldier or guard stops everyone and demands that they identify themselves. Many Americans think this is terrible, but in most other countries the citizens are more used to the idea. They all have to carry identity cards of some kind, and may be asked to show them to a police officer or some other government official. When people in other countries move to a new town, they may present themselves at the mayor's office or town hall, where they will introduce themselves and offer letters of recommendation ( from their former employer, or from business or personal connections).  This is strictly a voluntary custom--it's the way the people who introduce themselves at the town hall think life should be. They are not used to the idea of anonymity, and would be uncomfortable with the idea of moving from place to place as a complete unknown.
     The debate over proposed laws requiring voters to identify themselves (which they already have to do when asked)  should lead to a broader discussion of identity cards--what kind of identity cards people should have, and under what circumstances they should have to produce them.