In a recent poll, 80% of Americans feel the U.S. is in decline. That’s a far cry from how we felt in the aftermath of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, when one’s political leanings didn’t matter. We were all Americans, united and willing to do whatever we could to support each other. Now, our ubiquitous media cycles bombard us with information that is often biased, inaccurate, and purposefully offensive to sew anger and hate. News has become more entertaining than informative, crafted to cause a reaction.
What can individual citizens do? One way we can empower ourselves is to vote. Each of us should feel a sense of duty to stand up for what we believe and elect candidates who most closely espouse our views and values. America is at a crossroads. What direction we go in should not only be left to special interests or those with far-reaching political or financial influence.
Some people feel that unless you live in a “battleground” state, your vote doesn’t make a difference. We can accurately predict election outcomes in portions of the country that are decidedly red or blue. As a result, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed and helpless about our expanding political chasm and our identity as a country.
But voting evens the playing field. After all the ads have run, the super PACs have spent their last dollars, and the back-and-forth volleys and debates between candidates and political parties conclude there is one duty remaining, and that is to vote. It may be the only time in America when a poor person has the same measure of power as someone who is wealthy. The vote of someone with a quiet voice carries the same volume as the loudest, most-outspoken opponent. Black or white, young or old, all votes that are cast count.
To paraphrase a line from the Gettysburg Address, when we make our voices heard by voting, we truly become a nation of the people, for the people, and by the people. It is our obligation to each other, our communities, and to the next generation to shape the direction of our country and our planet.
Mr. Gamache is the Chief Executive Officer of Aldersbridge Communities, a not-for-profit provider of senior housing, affordable assisted living, rehab therapy, and health navigation services in Rhode Island. He also teaches courses in long-term care and leadership at Rhode Island College.
Individuals with developmental disabilities and those living in long-term care communities have the right to vote, just like any other citizen. We want to make sure that elders and people with disabilities living in long-term care communities have the ability to do so, which is why we have launched the Long-Term Care Right to Vote #LTCVOTES campaign.
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