Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
October 1, 2020
If you plan to vote in the November 3, 2020 General Election, you must be registered by 5:00 p.m. October 5. Or you’ll be out of luck. This means you have only two business days left to act.
All the information you need to register may be found on the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections website.
As a bit of inspiration, we provide you with some quotes from famous people on the importance of voting. They provide food for thought and hopefully will encourage everyone to exercise their civic duty this November. [Quotes and commentary were provided by Scotty Hendricks on Big Think on February 27, 2020.]
We do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds his own business; we say that he has no business here at all. — Pericles
Pericles was an Athenian general known for his oratory and political skill. Here, he refers to the Athenian take on political participation. So important was the idea of being involved to the Athenians that our word “idiot” comes from the Greek term idiōtēs, meaning “private citizen”—one who wasn’t involved in the public life of politics. Listen to Pericles; don’t be an idiot.
Every election is determined by the people who show up. — Larry Sabato
Larry Sabato is a professor and political scientist at the University of Virginia who is well known for his predictions of election outcomes and his work to increase civic participation. Here, he reminds us of who has the power in a democracy: The people who actually go vote. If you don’t participate, you don’t have any power. It really is as simple as that.
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.— Plato
Plato was a Greek philosopher known for his writings on pretty much every topic. He was a follower of Socrates, and it is through Plato’s books that we remember him. Here, he states what every person who can’t imagine why anybody would ever vote for “that idiot” has always known to be true.
Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. – George Jean Nathan
George Nathan was an American editor and critic who often worked with the better remembered H.L Mencken. Here, he reminds us that every lousy politician was voted into office by somebody. If you fancy yourself a good person and would like competent officials, it stands to reason that you ought to vote for them so they can get into office.
Turn on to politics, or politics will turn on you.— Ralph Nader
An American lawyer known for his repeated runs for the presidency and consumer advocacy, Ralph Nader updates another quote by Pericles for a modern audience. Just because you don’t have an interest in how government works, doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect you. Plenty of people have made the mistake of thinking that a new government wouldn’t try to do exactly what it said it would do and paid the price for it. The best solution for it, both in ancient Athens and the modern world, is to participate.
And we at the Fernandina Observer say,
Don’t miss your opportunity to exercise the most important right and responsibility of citizenship!