The value of the Vote
While I campaigned I heard a lot of different commentaries related to government. Many of them you’ve heard before — Noone listens to us; Why vote it doesn’t matter anyway?; What difference will it make? — to cite a few. It is a sad commentary on our communication and education system. Where does the apathy start? How can it be reversed? I believe that communication and local opportunities to participate are key to reversing this trend and developing an involved electorate.
In Riverside County there are several groups in place — the Latino Network, The Group, the Friday Morning Network, and over 20 neighborhood associations, that can inform and involve citizens and elected officials with citizens. The problem is unless you know someone in those groups, you don’t know about the groups. The Press Enterprise could go along way by publicizing the meetings and agendas and speakers. The Latino Network meets at Bordwell Park’s Casa de Ninos twice a month — 7-8am on the first and third Wednesday (off for the summer). The Group meets at the Coffee Depot downtown Riverside on the first and third Thursdays (off for the summer). The neighborhood groups generally meet at night at various community centers.
Our survival as a country depends on involved citizens — it always has. We have so many wonderful gifts that need to be used, exercised, nurtured, and protected. For my part, I want to approach the high schools again (I did it years ago.) and see about presenting a forum to the senior government/economic classes regarding such things as government budgeting, voting, and taxes. I’ll continue to teach my governmental accounting class at the UCR Extension but this will be for that somewhat younger group who are just coming of age and getting involved. Hopefully we can get them interested in the Value of the Vote.