If you don’t vote, someone will for you
Dear Editor,
As I traverse the island I hear more and more people saying they are not voting again. And, as I examine the composition of the groups who are of this view, I find that a great majority of them are those who would seemingly be the more sensible, educated and the wealthier of our society.
Many of them seem to be thinkers and state that, after thinking it through, they have concluded that it makes no sense to vote. It is my view that these are the people who are the greatest contributors the detriment of our country.
In all their thinking, they have failed to realise one fundamental point: regardless of what happens, or does not happen, whether they vote or do not vote, somebody will become the councillor, somebody will become the member of parliament, and ultimately someone will be the prime minister who would now have the authority to decide who become the managers of the country (the Cabinet).
Our forefathers fought to give us this right and many died to ensure we obtained the right to have freedom of speech and the right to vote (universal adult suffrage); yet we have reached the point where we do not want to participate anymore.
Since whether we vote or not someone still gets the job, the fundamental question is why should we take a passive approach by not participating, thus, allowing someone else to decide for us? Very often the person selected is not someone who is really thinking about the future of the country, or is rendered unable to perform because of the circumstances of the selection.
Everyone has the right to vote and collectively make the decision about who manages the affairs of the nation. So let us not leave it to the few, but instead put all hands on deck to assist in creating a better country.
I implore all Jamaicans who possess the intellect to think and reason, to analyse and conclude that they must once again be active participants in the political process. Because if you don’t decide, someone will decide for you.
Gary Rowe
magnett0072004@@yahoo.com