America’s Independence is Dependent on your Vote

Sen. Chip Pearson

By Chip Pearson
ATLANTA (June 28, 2010) – “I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.” 

Thomas Jefferson’s confidence in his fellow countrymen proved to be right.  With the right ingredients, the founding fathers’ “experiment” became a success, resulting in the most powerful country in the world.  Their most important ingredient: representative democracy.  As Americans, our right to vote, to choose who represents us, is a right we cannot take for granted.  Americans’ increasing indifference to the election process is resulting in a ballooning government that is slowly becoming the master of men.  Without the people to hold government accountable, the system will continue to grow until we no longer govern ourselves.  As we celebrate our independence this July 4, remember that the only way to secure that independence is to elect those who will serve to protect it.   

America is the greatest country on earth because we the people choose who represents us.  Every single vote counts within the transparent electoral process we have developed.  In countries around the world, people risk their lives just to cast a single vote.  Citizens in Afghanistan have faced a series of corruption scandals and experienced a fraudulent presidential election last year.  The country’s spring parliamentary elections have been delayed until September among fears of widespread violence, election fraud, and the critical lack of funding.  Concern abounds that Afghans in the southern province will find it difficult to participate.  Consider the difference between the two countries on Election Day.  Most Americans will take a few minutes off work to drive to their nearest polling station and cast their ballot, then drive away confident that their vote will be counted.  Citizens in Afghanistan take many risks just to cast their vote, which they know could easily be lost to corrupt election schemes.  Women are often targeted for their act and voters risk being caught in the crossfire of election-related violence.   

Thankfully, Americans do not face such oppression and violence when traveling to the ballot box.  However, we will face ever-increasing government oppression if more Americans do not cast their vote this year.  With the primary election season upon us, much is at stake.  An unsustainable public debt, an unprecedented government takeover of our health care system and meaningful immigration reform hang in the balance, just to name a few.  Your vote in each election can tell Washington to stop runaway spending, eradicate unnecessary government regulation and that the majority of Americans want to protect our borders.  It’s up to you to put the people in office that will listen to you and return this country to its founding principle of limited, responsible government.  The only way to do so is with your vote.   

The steady decline in voter turnout over the years would no doubt have the founding fathers concerned for the future of our liberty.  They gave us the framework of a representative democracy as our tool to preserving liberty.  If you’re unhappy with your government, vote to change your government.  Our right to democracy is a wonderful gift they left behind for an infinite number of generations, as long as we protect the core principles of this country. 

This July 4, as we celebrate the endurance of our country’s founding document, remember these important words from the Declaration of Independence: “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”  This means that those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action.  Your independence depends on your vote.

Sen. Chip Pearson serves as chairman of the Economic Development Committee. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, and Union counties and portions of Forsyth and White counties.  He may be reached at 404.656.9221 or via e-mail at chip.pearson@senate.ga.gov.

COLUMN
For Immediate Release:
June 29, 2010
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Deputy Director
Kallarin Richards, Senior Communications Specialist
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028