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« Opinion
Don’t take voting for granted
Don’t take voting for granted
It is a commentary on the freedom that permeates life in the United States that something as elementary to the practice of freedom as the citizen’s right to vote can be taken for granted.
And yet, from year to year ,more people who could vote, don’t. Especially in off-year elections such as this one.
In emerging or struggling democracies, people literally risk their lives to vote. In the United States, where the biggest danger voters face is the possibility of someone handing them a piece of campaign literature, too many people simply can’t be bothered.
There’s an encouraging uptick in voting in Mahoning and Trumbull counties as we approach tomorrow’s vote. Nearly twice as many voters have sought early ballots — what used to be called absentee ballots — than did so in 2007.
That could be because of high interest in the statewide gambling issue, some local tax issues and a few hotly contested races. Or it could be because people simply became more familiar with the early ballot last November, when anticipated heavy turnout for the presidential race encouraged people to take advantage of Ohio’s early-ballot process.
Whatever the reason, it is an encouraging sign. The worst thing that could happen to our democracy is for its Democrats and Republicans, Libertarians and independents, conservatives and liberals and everything in between to neglect to cast a ballot.
For those who didn’t vote early, the polls will be open in Ohio from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Vindicator editors conducted endorsement interviews with candidates in selected races and in recent weeks endorsement editorials have been published.
Here’s a recap of those endorsements, with this caveat: follow our suggestions or don’t, that’s OK; but please don’t let the polls close before you have cast your ballot.
Mahoning County
BOARDS OF TRUSTEES
Austintown: David C. Ditzler and Jim Davis.
Boardman: Robyn Gallitto and Kathy Miller.
Canfield: J. Randy Brashen and Marie Cartwright for the full term.
Richard Puerner for an unexpired term.
Poland: Robert Lidle and Mark Naples.
BOARDS OF EDUCATION
Austintown: Kathy Mock, David G. Schnurrenberger and Richard R. Zimmerman.
Boardman: Kimberly Poma and Mark J. Fulks.
Canfield: Adrianne Sturm, Craig Olson and Brian Kesner.
Poland: Frank DiVito.
Youngstown: Jackie Taylor, Lock P. Beachum Sr. and Rachel I. Hanni.
We also recommended that Mahoning County voters support the 0.5-percent sales tax that produces about $14 million annually for vital county services, the 1-mill, 5-year renewal levy for the library and the 1-mill, 5-year renewal levy for children services. None is a new tax.
Trumbull County
Warren Council-at-large Helen L. Rucker, Daniel J. Sferra and Dan Crouse.
Liberty Board of Trustees: W. Gary Litch and John B. Simon.
Liberty Board of Education: Christine Flanagan, Gloria H. Lang and Joseph S. Nohra Jr.
Throughout Mahoning, Trumbull and Colum–biana counties, various school districts are asking their residents to approve additional and renewal levies that local boards of education have determined are necessary to provide a high quality of education for the next generation. We recognize that nothing defines a community more than its school system, and we urge continued support for local schools and their students.
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Comments
November 3rd should be a real test of the Vindy's political acumen, especially in Boardman as so many articles and blog comments are not exactly in favor of the two endorsed candidates. Here are a few:
http://www.vindy.com/weblogs/stirfry/200...
http://www.vindy.com/weblogs/stirfry/200...
http://www.vindy.com/weblogs/stirfry/200...
http://www.vindy.com/weblogs/stirfry/200...
http://www4.vindy.com/content/opinion/op...
http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/sep/07/sa...
http://www.vindy.com/news/2006/oct/18/pr...
Come on Tug, still supporting the censorship king Calhoun? He of the ratemyteacher 8th graders ratings he had removed immediately after I told you about them?
Calhoun's nothing more than a union mouthpiece who will continue to overpay the union employees and throw the township into even further financial distress.
Vindy wrote "We also recommended that Mahoning County voters support the 0.5-percent sales tax that produces about $14 million annually for vital county services...(edited) None is a new tax." Linguistic double talk. The .05 percent is the same tax rate but it is FOREVER; not subject to a limited time (e.g. 5 years). It is the same percentage but is a new permanent tax. I expect politicial speak from those in office but we should be aware that editorals are opinions based upon educated bias. Straight talk, however, is never out of fashion.
Apollo:
For the 10th time , 'ratemyteacher' is a cornball site whereas anyone can 'spike' the ratings in either direction with the aid of the ubiquitous 'submit' button. If you felt it had any true validity, why didn't UUUUU just leave it alone.
To characterize Calhoun as being that dumb that he would throw the township into even further financial distress is as sophomoric as the credence you give to the 'ratemyteacher' site.
If the ratemyteacher website is of no consequence, why did Calhoun have it taken down within hours of my pointing it out? Shouldn't the voters decide whether it's relevant? If he can't take the heat of a few 8th graders, what's he going to do when the newspapers attack him? Or taxpayers? The ratemyteacher website did have one common thread. Calhoun spends quite a bit of time outside the classroom. Doing union business on teaching time I heard?
Putting a union member and former union president in charge of a township that is in financial trouble BECAUSE of the unions is like having the fox guard the hen house.
http://www.rateitall.com/i-2707894-board...
Wikipedia: Apollo(god of light, truth and prophecy)
A man who finds it particularly important to get the last word where he has some doubts as to the merits of his case. The last word will serve as a clinching argument that will make up for any deficiencies in his logic. Achieving the last word now also brings the advantage that he may subsequently point to his success in a debate as the clinching argument in future debates. However, if he did not win the last discussion, he will still claim incessantly that he did.
Considering the way the population votes, and who they vote for, I now understand the reason the Founding Fathers though only land owners should vote. In our modern times, I'm beginning to think that there should be some type of IQ test in order to vote. You know, the basic stuff like, how many states there are, or what two bodies comprise the Congress, or can you correectly identify NY, LA, and Chicago on a map, or do you know the Pledge of Allegiance, or the really hard one...how many commandments make up the 10 Commandments. If the morons get a 75% they can vote. I'm sorry to say, that about 60%, or the same percentage that voted for Obama/Marxist administration wouldn't pass.