The right to vote is the right to live free and prosper. Everybody knows that. That's why nearly every country in
the world has legally franchised their people's right to vote, even the many countries with authoritarian leaders.
Authoritarian leaders make all the countries other decision, but they do make sure everyone gets a chance
to vote.
Almost all of these leaders are beloved by their voters. They're often reelected by percent margins of ninety-nine to one.
That's how impressive the awesome franchise
of freedom-to-vote can be.
Of course some grumbling naysayers say it's evidence for a different awesome power; the power of the powerful to count the votes. These folks quote Stalin's famous remark, "It's not who votes that counts. It's who counts the votes".
Stuff and nonsense says Google. He never said anything of the kind! Mmm, I suppose so. Google doesn't get things wrong.
Still, if Stalin didn't say it, does that mean it isn't true?
Well even if there is some truth in it, it couldn't happen in America. We have laws against election fraud. Anyone caught fixing an election would be arrested, punished, and quickly removed from office.
There’s no way to cheat in our elections..
Yes but, authoritarian countries also have laws against election fraud. They swiftly catch such shenanigans and punish the perpetrators severely.
They're so strict they sometimes remove malefactors not only from office but from history as well by air-brushing their faces from official photos.
Maybe that's the reason grateful voters in those countries vote so uniformly to reelect their supremely capable leaders.
I guess we all agree that voting is the best way to truly guarantee the people's choice.
Some few have expressed sour doubt.
W. H. Menken is said to have said, "In a democracy people get the kind of government they deserve - and they deserve to get it good and hard".
Which brings up another point.
Should everybody be voting? We seem to think so.
Get-out-the-vote drives are part of every election. Voting is described not as a privilege but as a duty.
Everyone leaving the voting booth is given a sticker saying: I voted today.
It's sort of a participation award. "I did my part.
I voted".
When the country was founded voting was restricted to men who owned land.
The Founding Fathers reasoned that men who owned property could be trusted to vote reliably on what was best for the country. They thought this because the self-interest of anyone who owns their own property relies upon a just and properly administrated nation.
What!!! Only guys with land can vote. No, no, no! That’s not fair. Everybody should vote.
Now they can. Crusading activists over the years have righteously added amendment after amendment to assure Constitutional franchise to anybody who feels like voting.
Plus, if you don't feel like voting, there are many charitable organizations willing to vote on your behalf.
There are even reliable reports of voting by
the dead.
Voting for everyone, just as it should be.
In a democracy people get the government they deserve - and they deserve to get it good and hard.
"The right to vote is the right to live free and prosper".
That’s what the Commissar said. Yah, right!
Maybe he left something out.
?