Grateful for Freedom to Vote

Please pardon my extreme diversion from the usual on this blog. My tired homemaker brain is wandering today. It's refreshing to think on other matters.

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual - or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." Samuel Adams

I have a husband who is involved with political matters. He does his research on candidates. He's aware of voting days. He makes it happen. Hence... he helps me fulfill my public duty.

So today when he came home at 4 p.m., I was more than delighted to leave all the tots and do some early voting and follow his example.

Jimmy shared some interesting stats with me today from vote.utah.gov

Percentage of Eligible Population who voted:

1960 = 80%

1962 = 65%

2006 = 30%

2008 = 50%

So basically on Presidential Election years, we've had 20% more people voting, but the numbers have decreased significantly.

Why aren't the percentages higher? I certainly don't know. But I wonder if we, as a culture, don't appreciate what a marvelous freedom and right it is to vote. Perhaps we just get too caught up in the busy-ness of life to think about and research the candidates. Perhaps we feel like we are only picking the best of the worst. Who knows...

Here's a chart from the U.S. Census site that shows the top reasons why people didn't vote:

Well, anyhoo... I just found the information interesting - a diversion from my normal homemaker duties. It made me want to be a better citizen and appreciate the freedom to participate in government matters by voting.

"Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces." James Garfield

Here's a link to more Founding Father quotes that are great!