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The Price of Freedom
Megan O'Neil
World Institute on Disability
An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the
proper functioning of a republic. Self-government
is not possible unless the citizens are educated
sufficiently to enable them to exercise oversight.
- Thomas Jefferson
It is often said the right to vote is the most essential American
freedoms. Wars continue to be fought all over the world for the
right to cast a ballot, to ensure that every voice counts. Yet,
many of us fail to exercise this most basic element of democracy.
Here are just a few of the common reasons:
- Some feel that their vote no longer matters. Whether because of
election scandals or simply the feeling that one single vote
cannot make a difference, many in our country have grown
apathetic.
- Even if they vote, politicians are controlled by special
interests whose deep pockets are more persuasive than our single
vote.
- There are no good choices. Candidates, regardless of party
affiliation, are all the same and rather than cast a negative
vote against the lesser of candidates- many choose to abstain.
- For people with disabilities, many polling places and voting
machines/ballots are inaccessible- disenfranchising a good
portion of 20% of the population. According to a National
Organization on Disability/ Harris Interactive® survey, one-
fifth of eligible voters with disabilities who wanted to vote
were unable to do so for a variety of reasons(1).
It is easy to understand the low turnout at elections, given the
variety of excuses. It is far easier to complain about the state
of American democracy, than to do something about it. The American
Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has been diligently
working on access issues. They were instrumental in ensuring that
the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) became law in 2002, which
included language to assure access to voters with disabilities. In
the end, all the other excuses are up to us to change. What
democracy boils down to is that everyone has a voice and unless we
exercise that voice, we will be at the mercy of those that do.
We in America do not have government by the majority.
We have government by the majority who participate.
- Thomas Jefferson
The November mid-term elections are just around the corner. While
not as hyped as much as a presidential election year, the
decisions we make by the votes we cast hold the power to change
the direction of this country, just the same. Many important
issues affect our decisions on which candidates we choose. Every
time we watch television, read a newspaper or magazine, or listen
to the news on the radio, we hear stories about the conflicts in
the Middle East, terrorism, immigration, abortion, and the role of
religion in our society. Yet, what about the issues that affect
the daily lives of people living in poverty? Do we know what
candidates think about Social Security or health care reform?
About welfare? About low-income housing or food stamps programs?
Has there been any discussion of our judiciary and protection of
the most important civil rights legislation for people with
disabilities- the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
This is not another piece of propaganda designed to persuade
voters to blindly follow our recommendations. In fact, there will
be no recommendations on any one candidate or issue. Rather, the
point of this article is to encourage readers not only to vote,
but also to seek out information beyond the flood of commercials
and appeals of single-issue politics. This is not about
discounting the opinions that people hold on important values or
partisan concerns. This is an appeal to delve deeper into the
subjects that affect our daily lives as individuals with
disabilities and those that assist people's attempts to rise out
of poverty. It is not an easy task.
This is a heavy responsibility- this act of voting. Not only are
we expected to take time out of our busy schedules to cast the
vote, we have to become educated on candidates platforms to know
who to vote for. The difference between today and Thomas
Jefferson's republic is the onslaught of media propaganda. In
Jefferson's day, there was no television commercials, talk-radio,
or internet blogs, newspapers were hard to come by (although
Jefferson was no big fan of newspapers either- once saying that
the only good thing they contained were advertisements). Yet,
despite the difficulty, it is one of our most important
responsibilities as an American.
For those of you that are content with the current state of this
country, you are off the hook. If you agree with the policies and
direction that leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives have taken us in the last few years, you need not
read further. However, for those of us that are dissatisfied, we
must take the time to make our frustrations heard. The issues
being discussed in most elections across the country are leaving
out what affects our daily existence. It was thought that
Hurricane Katrina might change the debate, that once again poverty
might play a role. Largely, that has not occurred. Over the next
week before elections take place, we all need to ask "What about
us?"
If commercials and stump speeches are not addressing the
challenges of the growing number of people living in poverty in
this country, what do we do? Here are a few tips:
The minimum wage has not changed since
1996. Earlier this summer, the Senate voted 52-46 to defeat a
hike in the minimum wage forcing workers to survive on $10,712
($5.15 per hour). How did your current Senator vote on the
Increasing Minimum Wage Amendment or the Minimum Wage Adjustment
Amendment, both proposed in 2006? See the Economic Policy
Institute's issue guide for more facts and figures on the
minimum wage
- Social Security Reform: Touted as one of the top issued to again
be addressed after the November election. Where does your
candidate of choice stand on private accounts and
Medicaid/Medicare reform? To learn more about Social Security
and purposed changes, see AARP's Policy & Research overview
- Budget Debates: We are repeatedly told that it is time for the
country to make sacrifices, given our economic circumstances.
Millions of dollars are being cut from poverty reduction and
disability programs, while tax cuts were awarded to the
wealthiest individuals and large corporations. Where does your
candidate stand on tax cuts vs. domestic spending? How did your
current representative vote on the Tax Reconciliation Bill of
2006? See the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities for more
information on effects of tax cuts on our budget deficit and
domestic programs.
These are merely three issues that are actively being debated in
both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. With an
overwhelming amount of information, one way to help determine your
vote is to know how your current elected official voted on the
issues. Project Vote Smart has created a tool that lists the
voting records and issue positions of currently elected officials
and many candidates- on both the state and national level. There
are also biographical information and campaign finances that give
voters greater insight into candidates. There are also brief
explanations of bills voted on throughout your elected official's
career. http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm
One of the major differences between Thomas Jefferson's democracy
and the one we have today is the amount of information available.
It was understandable for those in the 1700's to not be informed
about their candidates, this is no longer true. It is easy for us
to fall into the trap of believing that our single vote does not
matter. However, the only real way we can ensure that our voice is
not heard is to not cast a vote at all. When we go to the polls
next week, we should remember the excellent advice of one of the
disability community's pioneers, Justin Dart: "Vote as though your
life depends upon it – because it does."
*Sincerest thanks to Bill Zavarello for his political insight and
wit.
1 - "Barriers Restrict Voting by People with Disabilities" National
Organization on Disability/Harris Interactive - October 14, 2004
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