A question to non-voters: Tired of democracy?
Samuel Johnson, the great 18th century English author, scholar and critic, admired the London of his day. As capital of the British empire, the city was a marvel of civilization. Its merchant houses bustled with commerce; its architecture was superb; its culture was enhanced by literary giants. The spread of coffeehouses and newspapers improved social life and communication.
Johnson loved his city and dismissed anyone who wasn’t similarly enthralled.
“When a man is tired of London,” Johnson said, “he is tired of life.”
Two and a half centuries later, the United States is a marvel of democracy. Americans have reaped the fruits of self-government since our forefathers declared independence in Johnson’s day and established the world’s longest-running democracy.
Today’s citizens have Information Age technology at their fingertips to learn about candidates and issues. Recent reforms ease the registration and voting process.
With these advantages, you would think everyone would participate on Election Day.
Yet on Tuesday, thousands of Sauk Valley residents will shun the polls.
For whatever reasons, they are unwilling to put in the effort that self-government requires.
It leads us to ask:
When people are tired of voting, are they tired of democracy?
Are they tired of freedom?
Weary of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
Bored by government of the people, by the people, for the people?
We’d like to think not. However, when an election is held and turnout is minimal, what other conclusion should an observer draw?
Perhaps non-voters want to be left alone. They are free, after all, to choose not to participate, and weaken democracy by their absence.
One wonders what type of government they would prefer. Communism? A dictatorship? An Islamic republic? Less freedom, to be sure, but at least they wouldn’t be bothered by pesky elections. Secret police, censorship, and puppet trials, yes; but freely voting their conscience, no.
So, to people who are tired of voting and don’t plan to go to the polls Tuesday, we ask a simple question:
Are you tired of democracy?
