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Masquerading Americans

Some folks will not need to buy costumes for trick or treating this year? They can go the same way they live---masquerading as Americans. Such people won't bother to vote on Election Day AND will feel justified in not doing so!

Perhaps at this time in history, who and how many people vote are more significant then who gets elected. This is especially so in a non-presidential (off cycle) election year. My reason for saying this is that voter turnout is a measurement of how much we really care about this country. It's comparable to taking the time in life to tell those we care about that we do love them. Unfortunately, too many folks want the country to care about them, and their citizenship stops there!

Masquerading Americans come in basically two groups. They are flag bearers and Casper ghosts. Flag bearers come wrapped in a complaining cloth of red, white, and blue. Caspers are colorless as you might guess. Let's take a closer look at them - and let's see if we recognize anybody we know.

Flag bearers will tell you in a minute what their rights are as an American. Freedom this and freedom that spill off their lips with the ease of our forefather Patrick Henry. They insist that somebody; somewhere is suppose to protect them-because they simply exist I suppose. In the next breath they will tell you that …no they are not going to vote. They express justification for this as…why bother my vote won't make any difference;…or I can't stand any of them that are running so I'm protesting by not voting;…and don't you just love this one…all politicians are the same, once they're in office they don't care about the voters. An especially overused one right now is….I only bother to vote in presidential elections the rest of them don't matter!

Caspers are usually a quieter group as you might well imagine.
They say nothing, do nothing, think nothing-that is until they want something. Then by jingo-the government had better take care of them pronto. Political correctness rather then political courage guides their citizenship. Voting is low on their totem pole because someone else will do it-someone always does. Remaining 'out of the loop' avoids any responsibility for what happens or doesn't happen. Caspers float along on the work and courage of other Americans. They stay above the fray in an effort to not rock the boat. That's where being a ghost really comes in handy. Caspers hover around the winds of political change and are brought along by the efforts of others.

Each of these groups passes along to younger Americans a legacy of irresponsibility and disrespect for everything for which our nation stands. Our young people and our nation deserve far better.

When you don't vote it's YOU that doesn't count-not your vote. Remember-voting is free but freedom is not! Get real, get American, get out and vote!

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