THE RIGHT TO VOTE ENSURES ALL OTHER RIGHTS
By Bob Confer

The founding fathers conceived the United States of America out of
their desire to escape Great Britain’s heavy-handed governance. They
justifiably felt that the Crown was too intrusive and too oppressive.
The colonists were - just as they were back in their homeland -
heavily taxed, denied the pursuit of freedom and completely silenced
when it came to legislative affairs. They and other Brits had become
beholden to their government.

Not wanting to live under such tyranny, and intent on guaranteeing
that no one else suffered the same, they founded this great nation
under the basic yet utterly profound pretense that the people control
the government, rather than the other way around. This tenet was
codified in the Declaration of Independence through this timeless
phrase: “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their Powers
from the Consent of the Governed.”

Such a belief was in stark contrast to not only British rule but also
that of most organized societies since the dawn of time, from nomadic
tribes to the world’s greatest empires. As a direct result of this
newfound self-rule Americans could pursue happiness and liberty
virtually unabated. This right to freedom was at the time (and still
is) deemed a natural right, granted to all by a higher power, be it
The Creator or Man’s intrinsically good nature. Despite being natural
and essential to one’s existence, true liberty was quite amazingly
available only here. Basically, America was by design a Heaven on
Earth.

This position still holds true to this day. Centuries later, America
is still far and away the best exemplification of a free society.
Realize, though, that this is not a guaranteed comfort. We as
Americans can only maintain this great nation through participation in
legislative affairs. This does not mean that one needs to run for
office. All it means and requires is that the citizens pay attention
to how their lives are impacted by government and then - based upon
acceptance or displeasure - make their voices heard in the electoral
process. After all, our affairs are all controlled by the consent of
the governed.

Unfortunately, over the years many have lost sight of this. Less and
less people exercise their right to vote, taking America and freedom
for granted while accepting the status quo. They fail to see that the
right to vote essentially dictates all other rights. Such a wayward
mindset will ultimately destroy America, taking the power from the
people and placing it into the hands of the government. Oppressive
government rule can and will wipe out all rights, even those
identified as being God-given.

History has proved that all great societies collapse or fade away. In
most cases it is because the people became secondary rather than
primary. We or our descendants do not need America to become one of
these fatalities.

This demise can be prevented - and America saved - with your help.

In next week’s general election many people will do the patriotic
thing and exercise their right to vote. While this occurs many more
people will decline their obligation. You will know many such people,
those who consider going to the polls a chore and struggle to make to
time for it or to put-in the efforts necessary to make an informed
decision.

You yourself may even be one of these souls.

If this is the case, a truer path must be chosen. It is imperative
that you exercise your right to vote in an effort to maintain all
other rights. It is as equally important that you influence other
people to do the same. Let it be known that we the people control
America and all that it represents. Not participating in this and
every election gives away this control and could, in the end, give
away the very extraordinary way of life that you, your children, and
their children all rightly deserve.
E-mail: bobconfer@juno.com
Website: www.bobconfer.net