In the United States, voter turnout, particularly in non-presidential years, is nothing to be proud of, and in the last 40 years, even turnout in presidential years has rarely been much above 55 percent of eligible voters. Our record in national elections, compared to many other nations, is nothing to be proud of.

A recent post-election story in the OBSERVER quoted the county election commissioners as saying that while data was incomplete for last month’s election, turnout among 18- to 25-year-olds would be shown to be low and that the majority of the people who voted would prove to be over the age of 50. These suppositions were attributed to the fact that young people have other things on their minds besides voting, especially in local elections. Taxes and the quality of local services are not something they focus on at that age. This is probably true but it is sad that young people are so disconnected from what is happening in local government when it is local government that has an immediate impact on their quality of life and on the economic viability of this region.

Who is to blame for this state of affairs? To some degree probably parents who don’t vote, or if they do vote, do so sporadically and who themselves probably have little knowledge of the political process. Some blame can also be placed on the educational system, which for all its purported concern for turning out good citizens may be missing the boat on turning out citizens concerned with voting.

I started this piece determined to pontificate and rail against the attitude of many of my fellow citizens toward voting and to give volumes of statistics on the subject, but I have decided against that. I will just make some simple statements that might bring home the consequences of non-involvement in the political process.

If you don’t mind living in an area that offers few really good jobs for you and your loved ones, don’t vote. If you don’t mind waking up one morning to find that property taxes are so high you can’t afford to buy a home, then by all means, avoid voting. If you don’t vote and then complain about leaders who are second rate and seemingly out of touch with the people, hang your head in shame because you bear some blame for that state of affairs.

If you like living in a state where a governor, who listens primarily to those who finance his election, or vote for him, can push through legislation limiting something you hold dear, like your right to own a gun, then go ahead and do something else on election day. If you like the idea of a legislative process that encourages cronyism, corruption, and undo influence by powerful special interests, avoid voting in state elections. Finally, if your idea of the good life is paying some of the highest taxes in our nation, then by all means, don’t vote.

If you have little concern for the direction your nation is taking or who its leaders are, then voting is probably not for you. If you aren’t concerned about waking up one morning to find that the Constitution has been suspended, that the press is no longer free and that expressing your feelings could land you in jail, then why vote, right?

Some of you reading this will shake your head and say that this guy is full of “hot air,” that none of those things he mentions have or will occur because I don’t vote. Sadly the things I cite have occurred at all levels of government or likely will occur.

Voting is a right of our citizenship but it is also a duty if we are to be good citizens. When we first become eligible to vote we may not be concerned about taxes and governmental service but someday we will be. By voting we become part of the political process and desiring to make informed choices we begin to become aware of candidates and issues. In varying degrees we become “political animals” concerned about government at all levels and perhaps discussing it with friends and family.

Most of us will never run for or hold office, but by voting we make our opinions heard and we become part of a powerful special interest group called voters. That makes us important because engaged and informed voters tend to keep politicians on their toes.

Thomas Kirkpatrick Sr. is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com