It’s better when we do it together
By Tom Teicholz at 4 November, 2008, 12:32 pm
Vote that is. The other night a fellow was extolling the virtues of voting by mail: “I can’t see why anyone would do it any other way?” He said. I disagreed and this morning was the proof.
THere is something wonderful about wakling to a polling place, seeing all the people on the street who have just voted, and seeing people you recognize or know from the neighborhood at the polling place. Yes, there was a line — yes, it took about 30 minutes to wait in line and then vote — but knowing that people care so much about voting that they value their act of citizenship that much is not a bad thing — in fact it is a great thing to show your children and to remind yourself about.
I suppose that in this I am the son of immigrants, or as might be put in today’s language: Americans by choice rather than by birth. My parents valued being able to vote and participate in democrcacy as do I.
Now it’s true it may be more conveinent to vote at home, and in order to have more people be able to participate it is wonderful that there are options such early voting and voting and voting by mail. Perhaps one day people will text in their votes much as they do for “American Idol”. Not to sound like a luddite but something wtll be gained and something lost.
Until then, and as long as I can, I’ll continue to enjoy voting in person in a voting booth at my local polling place.
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