Are you voting? Your last chance to make a difference is NOW!
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
Ask yourself this simple question: "Am I voting?"
That wasn't hard was it? A simple 'Yes' or 'No' would be the answer, but the question is can you or better yet will you help yourself? A great man once said, "Nobody's going to help you. You have to help yourself."
The latest numbers are in from Election Central and Roy Schmerber has informed The News Gram of the fact that in two weeks of early voting, only 2,906 of 24,000 registered voters in Maverick County have come out to do their civic duty, an average of 78.5 votes per candidate in our local elections.
This can be attributed to two factors: lack of a candidate who may have a group of grassroots supporters that feel so connected that they can mobilize large groups of voters to make a statement about the state of things or in support of someone who brings something very different to the table in terms of what he/she can do for their constituents. The other would be a careless attitude in wake of the latest investigations by the FBI, the Department of Public Safety and the Western District of Texas which have led to the arrests and convictions of seventeen individuals since October of 2012.
If you are one who takes the time to participate in the process of going to meetings and making your voice heard in one of many ways, it is in your best interest to come out to one of the fourteen polling places and once again make your voice heard.
If you are one of those who calls in to local talk shows to criticize local government officials and the state of Eagle Pass/Maverick County politics and come out to vote, then good for you, you've earned that right to do so, but if not, shame on you for criticizing a process and a system which you refuse to do something about, because of apathy or lack of interest.
A high turnout is generally seen as evidence of the legitimacy of the current system. Assuming that low turnout is a reflection of disenchantment or indifference, a poll with very low turnout may not be an accurate reflection of the will of the people.
This is the real concern amongst local communities. Is the will of the people being heard. Are the people imposing their will? Not by complaining about local officials after they have been put in office or criticizing a system that places these people in power. But by casting their vote, exercising their voice and helping themselves. Have you helped yourself? Have you casted your vote? Has your voice been heard?
President John F. Kennedy also said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
Not enough local residents have felt the obligation to cast their vote in any and all local elections as evidence in election number results. The key question is 'Have you been out to vote?' Will you vote in this upcoming election? These are the types of questions that can only be answered by oneself.
