So Where Was Everybody On Election Day?

Well, another primary election has come and gone, and in this town, that usually means the general election is a formality for assuring Republican dominance of city government in 2000.

So it was more than a little disturbing to me, being a new Warsawan, to see that three out of four of my fellow citizens saw fit not to vote Tuesday.

The election turnout - a mere 2,338 people cast ballots - was abysmal, especially considering some enormously important issues will be addressed in the next four years, affecting the quality of life and finances of every Warsaw resident for decades.

Don't the 7,404 eligible voters who chose not to fulfill their civic obligation realize that? Or is it that they just don't care?

Whatever the reason, they should all be ashamed of themselves. And I'd bet my last dollar some of the loudest wailing and gnashing of teeth will come from those 7,404 civic freeloaders when sewer rates are raised and taxes climb to pay for a new sewer treatment facility.

Personally, I don't want to hear it.

My father has a saying he likes to repeat at nearly every election: "If you don't vote, you can't gripe."

He even wanted to issue every voter casting a ballot on election day a "Griping License," so only licensed gripers could complain when the government did something unpopular. If someone is caught griping without a license, they are immediately sentenced to 30 days of community service - not for punishment, but for enlightenment.

I think that's a wonderful idea, and the apathy I saw Tuesday only strengthened my opinion.

So, beginning in January, I'll start viewing every complaint about our city government - every whine, every moan, every petty gripe over things that aren't done the "right" way - with one question foremost in my mind: "Did you vote?"

If a person cares so little about our local government and our community - that taking 10 or 15 minutes out of their day to actually participate in a process others have fought and died to establish is asking too much from them - then their opinion means less than nothing.

Oh, I can hear the excuses. "I was just too busy," or "My vote doesn't matter, and "It wouldn't change anything if I did vote."

One word comes to mind when I hear that - balderdash (since this is a family publication).

In the contested Warsaw City Council district races, no outcome was decided by more than 25 votes. William Rhoades defeated Dan Brumfield by a mere four votes. Trish Brown outpolled incumbent Dewey Lawshe by only nine votes for the at-large candidacy.

Obviously, the close results point out that every single vote can make a difference. Would a voter turnout of 76 instead of 24 percent have made any real difference in the outcome we saw Tuesday? Maybe not. But we would at least have a knowledge that a majority of the people had a say in the outcome - that everyone had a stake in the successes or failures of the next city council.

In Winona Lake, the final results weren't nearly as close. The entirely new face of the town council beginning in January was determined by wide margins of victory.

But were those margins a result of a highly motivated minority being the only ones to care enough to cast their ballots? Or was it really a strong expression of support for the changes taking place in the small community - changes that are sure to continue after the new regime takes power in January?

We'll never know the true answer, because we'll be left wondering what the majority who didn't vote really wanted.

A wise man once said, "Democracy is the worst form of government - except for all the others." For that to remain true, however, democracy requires that a majority of citizens participate. If they do not, then can it really be considered democracy?

To those who did vote Tuesday, I give you my thanks, regardless of the candidates you chose.

For those who didn't vote - those who neglected their most important civic responsibility, I say, "Shame on you."

And if you're looking for someone to hear and understand your complaints in the future, look for it from someone else. I don't want to hear it.