Re: Reflections on an election

[Ken Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>]

>it can be said that voting today is inconvenient. 
John, your remarks are really on target about citizen participation! We 
placea too many obstacles in the way. And in one sense, sometimes pol. 
parties don't want too much turn out, depending on the issues or on 
philosophy. Twenty years ago, I was for several years on the Republican 
County Ex. Committee in Michigan, in charge of public relations. A buddy 
and I put forth a plan to recruit more members and provide some political 
education. What happened? The County chairman put a stop to it, insisting 
that things were "alright as they are, don't disturb the boat, just buzz 
the telephone tree and get those already registered to come out to vote, 
and we'll win!"  Well, don't you know, he was right. But a lot of people 
never bothered to register and to vote. After that, I didn't have much 
stomach for party politics -- I believe in participation, in citizen 
education about the issues and about what's good for the whole community, 
esp. children. Gosh, our poor children in this country, we're losing 
about 20% of them to the scrap heap; about 1 in 5 even in Moscow do not 
read well after first-second grade (two principals here confirmed that, 
and I did so for myself in tutoring first grade all last hear at Lena 
Whitmore -- that's got to stop). 
  As for convenience, why do we have to vote always on a weekday, when 
moms and dads work all day -- it's a day for the prof'l folks, the 
self-employed, and the retired and leisure folks. Most European countries 
hold elections on Sunday, and the churches don't object. Turnouts are in 
the 70-90% in Europe, compared to our 48-49% even in presidential years. 
We elect our govts. by a 25-30% 'majority' of the electorate! Ridiculous. 
But as I noted above, sometimes that's what the politicians want.  I hope 
this adds good grist to the mill.   Ken M.

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William K. Medlin
Dev-plan associates
930 Kenneth Street
Moscow ID 83843
208/892-0148
dev-plan@moscow.com