Democracy
(n.) 1. Government exercised directly by the people or through elected representatives. 2. A political or social unit based on democratic rule. 3. Rule by the majority. 4. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.
As our 1996 Presidential elections approach, it's time to wonder what really is the state of our "democracy"? Will our citizens exercise the most powerful feature of our democracy: the ability to vote, that is, the ability to change and influence our government and to determine our future? The answer is of course, that a huge percentage of those eligible to do so will stay home.
In the 1992 Presidential election on a national scale the percentage of registered voters that voted was approximately 52%. Not an overwhelming endorsement for the democratic process, whould you say? Why don't more registered voters vote? Is there perhaps a deep seated cynicism about government that disrupts and perverts the democratic process? Are a vast group of voters so disenfranchised that they don't even care about their rights and responsibilities as citizens? Do most Americans really even understand their democratic responsibility? These are disturbing questions that need more attention than they're ordinarily given!
In 1995 federal legislation called Motor Voter became law. This legislation allows for voter registration to take place in various social agencies including libraries and the department of motor vehicles. The idea was to expose all citizens to the process and make registration easier and more accessible. Is there evidence that this draw more people into the electoral process? Perhaps. But the underlying and nagging questions about voter cynicism and apathy will not be so easily assuaged by merely adding more voters to registrations lists.
There seems to be a rupture in the community fabric of America. People don't feel connected to each other even in the midst of such events as national elections. Comments frequently heard include:
"Both parties are saying pretty much the same thing."
"My vote doesn't make a difference."
"Government is bought and paid for by special interest and lobbyist."
"Candidate `A' isn't much different that candidate 'B.'"
These are feelings and perceptions bandied about by those attempting to justify their decision not to vote.
What will bring citizens back to voting booths across America?
In Connecticut we have a forum sonsored by Secretary of the State Miles S. Rapoport called "Report on the State of Democracy in Connecticut" with this introduction by Rapoport:
In 1996, what is the health of the decision-making process? How well is our democracy working in Connecticut? Are people getting the information they need to make well-reasoned decisions? Is the process one that welcomes and encourages participation? Are the opportunities available to each of us relatively equal? How about democratic access and the fulfillment of individual potentials? How much do we think about, and care about, one another?As a citizen of Connecticut, I care deeply, as do many people in our state, about how well our democracy is functioning. As Secretary of the State, our state's chief election official, I believe it is important to encourage real analysis, thought, discussion, and action in order to achieve a fuller and more participatory democracy.«
Of course, the questions about participatory democracy must be answered by each citizen. If our society is to continue to be a rich amalgam of ideas and possibilities, bursting with the energy that produced the best of our history, then a high degree of action and a commitment to understanding the issues by each citizen must prevail over disinterest and apathy. There may be no single solution to raising the level of interest in voting, but in the State of Connecticut people like Secretary Rapoport are making an effort to highlight the issue's facing citizens and voters.
Ultimately, the freedom to vote was bought and paid for by our anscestors - our parents and grandparents, many of whom gave their lives to this end, and by our descendants - our sons and daughters who must fight the wars. Voting isn't just a responsibility, it's a right you have a responsibility to exercise. Will you vote in 1996?
D. Garrison
dlg@esslink.com
Registrars of Voters Association of Connecticut
Copyright © 1996 by Donald Garrison. All Rights Reserved.
Send your responses! - All good quality, good faith responses will be published on this site, space permitting. Please try to keep it to 7 kb of plain text and simply indicate where your submission begins and ends.
Back to Rants 'n' Raves
Back to Cultural Studies Central