Lack of voters, lack of appreciation

In the 1770s, people in a new land grew tired of having decisions made for them, decisions with which they did not agree. They did something about it.

They wanted the freedom of choice. They wanted "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

And, they wanted a voice. They wanted a government derived from the people, not an unresponsive government thrust upon them.

They felt so strongly about having this voice and these rights that they went to war. They were wounded. They were killed.

For many in Havelock, this is apparently ancient history.

During last week’s election in Havelock, 723 people voted out of the city’s 8,559 registered voters. That’s 8.4 percent.

Hardly what the founding fathers of this country had in mind 240 years ago.

They felt so strongly about having a voice that they were willing to wage war and die for it.

We apparently couldn’t even get in our cars and drive a couple of miles to the polling place.

How sad, especially considering the community in which we live.

Part of Havelock’s population includes Marines and sailors at Cherry Point who have seen the horrors of war. They indeed know the price paid for "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

If for no other reason, we owe all of them our vote, for it is the greatest sign of appreciation for them and the job they do and the protection they afford us.

Other military members have decided to retire here, raise families here and become a part of the fabric that is Havelock. These veterans — on this Veterans Day — understand like no other the meaning of a vote.

We’ve heard the excuses, perhaps the biggest being that one vote doesn’t make a difference.

In this year’s election, it certainly could have.

Jimmy Sanders won the race for mayor by 12 votes. If six people voted the other way, we would have had a tie. If seven had, we would have had a different mayor.

And, just think of the difference the 7,836 people who didn’t vote in the election could have made.

Beyond that, 723 voters in a city of about 20,000 is hardly democracy in action. In other words, 723 people decided the future for 20,000.

Why does anyone want somebody else making choices for him or her? That’s what was fought for 240 years ago.

Others simply don’t see the significance in these so-called smaller, local elections.

However, you’ll see it in your tax bill. You’ll see it in your sewer bill. You’ll see it in how your trash is collected. You’ll see it in your everyday life as you make your way through this city.

In essence, a vote in city elections affects you more than a vote for president. After all, a president isn’t going to decide how much you pay in property taxes or when that pothole on McCotter Boulevard gets fixed.

The problem is that people seem like they just don’t care. They’re apathetic. If the colonists 240 years ago were this apathetic, we wouldn’t be the great nation that we are today.

We should celebrate this accomplishment and show our commitment to this country. There’s no better way than voting.

Ken Buday is the editor and general manager of the Havelock News. He can be reached at 444-1999 or at kbuday@freedomenc.com.