A Reason To Vote In The West?
Shades of 1980 when Jimmy Carter conceded defeat before West Coast polls had closed. Some people say the Dole campaign’s early acknowledgment of defeat and, even worse, the television networks’ projections of Clinton’s victory Tuesday were a disservice to Western voters who hadn’t been to the polls yet.
Why a disservice? Because the networks wouldn’t cooperate in a self-delusion scheme? Because state and local candidates were counting on the presidential race to generate voter excitement that their own campaigns couldn’t? Because some people will seize any excuse to justify staying home on Election Day?
If we really don’t want to know the outcome until after we’ve voted, are we willing to wait an extra day to find out while voters in Hawaii and U.S. territories in the Pacific cast their ballots?
Thinking ahead to the election in 2000: What are the best reasons for Westerners to vote when they know the presidential race already is over? What are the best reasons not to?
Getting drunk was a sober decision
Charging James Barstad with murder for the two deaths his drunken driving caused last May 25 in Spokane was appropriate, says Jeannie Robinson of Spokane.
“This is about responsibility. When somebody reaches the age of 30, they would know how alcohol and drugs affect them. And when they first take a drink or take a drug - and in his case, he had speed on board - they’re sober and they make a sober decision. And that is the responsiblity that we all have to take as adults.
“He was sober when he made that choice and he was drunk at the time he killed those people. It’s indifference to the consequences that he shows - that knowing how something affects you, you don’t care and you still get in your car and take a chance.”
Teddy (Roosevelt, that is) had the right idea
Postelection reflection from James A. Nelson of Spokane:
“It’s time our political system accepts the fact that we need a strong third-party candidate. Ross Perot, from the start, lacked support, and it was only his millions that placed him on the ballot.
“We must get away from the fact that millions are voting not for who they really feel is best but who is the lesser of two evils. If our country was able to produce the likes of Teddy Roosevelt and the Bull Moose Party, we can do it again. We all should strive toward this end.”
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