The Obligatory

Election Season is full-on upon us, and with the standard-fare attack ads, mudslinging, and backbiting that's traditionally accompanied it, it's easy to get completely turned off, lie back in our chairs, and glaze over as we watch re-runs of the Tyra Banks Show. Also, there's no Presidential election, so why bother, right?

Wrong.

Mid-term elections, while often not as exciting as their nation-wide cousins, are extremely important. Not only does this upcoming election have the opportunity to shift power in Congress, but it also has the ability to send messages to the Establishments of both parties.

Look, I understand voter apathy. When the level of discourse has already passed three levels below the basement, it's difficult not to just shut the whole thing out and say 'forget this bullshit!'

But you can't.

When you don't vote, there's no reason any elected official should listen to you. You're not sending them a message about the inherent inevitability of corruption in the electoral system. You're telling them your constituency doesn't care what happens. Less than half of people aged 18-24 voted in the last Presidential election. Almost three quarters of those 55 and over vote. Ever wonder why prescription plans for seniors get so much love from Senators?

But ultimately, in a system like this, it is not the politicians' responsibility to get you to vote. It's your responsibility as a voter to let them know what you want them doing. Whether that's going to rallies, writing letters or emails, or just voting for the candidates and proposals closest to your views, it's really not that difficult.

Likewise, it's your responsibility - if you do vote - to find out about what you're voting for. Turn off the shrill TV commercials, which try to condense complex laws and political careers into 20 second, overproduced sound bites. Fire up your internet and visit your state's official page. Guaranteed, they'll have the complete information for everything on there. Visit each candidate's page and see what they really think about issues. Then vote.

California makes doing both things nice and easy. About a month before each election, we get Official Voter Guides in the mail. Not only do they have detailed statements from each candidate running for office, but they also have 'pro' and 'con' arguments for each proposal, as well as the complete written language of the proposals themselves. You know, in case you want to make your own decision.

Personally, I'm registered in California as a 'Permanent Absentee Voter,' which means they send me my ballot for all the elections in the mail. When I sit down to vote, I can do it anytime, and take as long as I want. I get my voter guide out, read about each election, and make an informed decision. And I can do it in my living room, in my pajamas.

But if you're not psyched up about voting for town councils and Board of Equalization members, remember that state assemblies, Congressmen, and Governors will often have a much more profound and noticeable effect on your government than a national one will. In California, we're lucky to have a Very Progressive candidate running against a already surprisingly Progressive Governor. But we're also lucky to have some potentially groundbreaking state proposals, including state-wide investment in alternative energy sources at the cost of the oil industry.

I'm sure, by now, you've figured out where I measure up on the political spectrum. But I am encouraging everyone to vote, especially that sad-ranking 18-24 demo. Change will begin when legislators realize that young people are a voting bloc worth courting.

Just vote.

One exception - if you live in California's 11th Congressional District, please please please don't vote for Richard Pombo.

Thanks.

REGISTER. There's still time, if you haven't done it already.

Well said, Casey.

In Wisconsin you don't have to register to vote, which is even worse that the same percent of certain demographics don't vote here either. But I nod my hat to you for being one of the few that hasn't given up.