The right to complain

The ballots for the November 3 election will be mailed tomorrow, Friday.

There will be a lot to consider when it arrives. The ballot contains state measures, advisory votes, local levy issues and candidates for a plethora of positions.

Three of the races are most prominent.

Everyone in the county will be able to vote for their choice of Ninth Legislative District Representative.

Representative Mary Dye is facing off with Richard Lathim. The successful candidate will finish the unexpired term of Susan Fagan who resigned under a cloud of controversy. Dye was just recently appointed to fill the seat until the new term begins next year.

The city of Palouse faces a big decision. Incumbent mayor Michael Echanove is challenged by Connie Newman. In Colfax, incumbent mayor Todd Vanek is challenged by J.W. Roberts.

Additional contested races exist in school districts and some junior taxing districts.

There is the old wisdom that people who do not vote have no right to complain about the outcome of elections and what then takes place.

Sadly, America has a very low turnout for elections. Still, the number of citizens taking exception to the workings of government is growing. It is ironic that more people complain than may actually vote.

The complaints and dissatisfaction are not only increasing. They are becoming more vehement and more unreasonable. At the same time, voter turnout does not increase.

Every issue and every race on this upcoming ballot is important. The outcomes will impact different areas, but that does not make them less important for those in those areas.

The reasons for voting can be couched in any manner of persuasion. Yet, the most compelling reason is that the outcomes will affect citizens personally. Not many places in the world give such access to determining one’s future.

If nothing else, those who vote will have earned the right to complain. Everyone else should just be still.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher