John Schneider's Oct. 22 column, "Please don't vote," should not be taken seriously (despite his insistence that we do just that). Winston Churchill said, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others." How should Americans order their civil society if not by the Constitution? Monarchy? Anarchy? Direct democracy? Schneider offers no ideas.
His argument, that our election system led to President George W. Bush's eight years in office and thus it is corrupt and useless, is totally bogus. Bush did not get elected and then go on a presidential power-spree. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were both authorized by Congress, his tax cuts were passed by Congress, his other economic policies were not passed by Congress, his cabinet members and judicial appointments were varyingly approved and denied by Congress, the Supreme Court has reviewed and reprimanded his prisoner policies at Guantanamo Bay, and so on. Voter input is not limited to election day-our representative republic puts the trust of our votes in Congress to check the president and vice versa. Furthermore, activism and lobbying shapes national policy every day.
More importantly, Bush does not run Durham. Our mayor and city council and other elected (or appointed) leaders do. If most voters refrain from voting, then any wacko could end up in charge of our tax dollars and our safety. So please ignore Schneider and go vote (for Sen. John McCain)!
Mike Jenista
Math Department
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