If you don't vote, don't complain

I recognize I have addressed this topic before and, in fact, recently. But Secretary of State Robin Carnahan put her 2 cents in on Friday and it confirms my concerns. Our top state election official predicts that barely one in four registered voters will cast ballots this Tuesday.

Now imagine that for just one minute. Three-fourths of those registered - not just eligible but registered - won't take the time and effort to vote this coming week. This shouldn't be just a concern of politicians. This should be a concern for each of us.

Maybe there should be a provision or incentive for voting other than the fact that you get to decide which direction your state or county or nation will take. Maybe for some people, the special privilege and right to vote just isn't important. I want to just shake those registered voters and ask them why they ignore what I believe is our duty. But that would do no good and I know it.

Even though just one-quarter of us will take the time to vote, rest assured that when government takes some action that is unpopular, 95 percent of the registered voters moan and cry and protest. Well, if you didn't make the effort to vote then shut your mouth!

In recent years there has been abundant attention focused on the election process. We all remember the 2000 presidential election. We can also remember the election fiasco in St. Louis. And everyone can recall an election where an office was decided by a handful of votes. Sometimes it was just a one vote difference.

But the truth is that the phony registration drives by political parties gets people to register who will never take the time to vote. But they'll take the time to make use of free government services. Sure, they can make that effort.

I hope Carnahan is wrong but I strongly suspect she's right. She may even be optimistic.

For the 75 percent of you who won't take the time to vote, you will get what you deserve. And you'd better not complain if you don't like the outcome.