It is an election year and, nowadays, it is nearly impossible to escape the constant political ads and articles on why you should (not) vote for a particular candidate. I will not be saying you should or should not vote for a particular person in this blog. I can name all of the U.S. presidents in the order they served and the years they served, but by no means does that make me a political expert! Instead, I am asking you to simply go out and vote because YOUR VOTE MATTERS!
Honor & Duty
Many of our veterans paid the ultimate price protecting our right to vote. Whenever there is an election near me whether it is on a city level, county level, state level or national level, I feel it is my duty to visit my polling place and cast a ballot. I usually need to do some research to make informed decisions, such as reading the voter information that comes in the mail, and examining local political publications to understand the strengths and challenges of different candidates.
Stop the Madness
It’s understandable that so many people can’t stand the mudslinging and the madness of today’s politics. It has gotten to the point where voters give up completely and decide they are not going to vote at all. I’m here to remind you of the destructive power of this kind of inaction. You may have heard the saying, “Those that fail history are doomed to repeat it.” When we don’t actively participate in the political process and simply let others determine our destiny, we lose our power as individuals and our opportunity to be heard.
The Power of One
Your vote matters. One recent example that proves this was the Democratic primary in Methuen, Massachusetts when Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton by only ONE VOTE! There will eventually be only two nominees for president. Maybe you won’t truly favor either of the candidates. Rather than thinking of your vote as choosing the lesser of two evils, think of it as making your voice heard and making a change towards bettering the situation. A greater evil would be not to vote at all. Edward Burke reminds us that evil will triumph when good people do nothing. If you choose to not vote, you will be helping evil triumph.
I left accounting and decided to become an autism advocate because I firmly believe that one person can make a difference. Everyone has the potential to make a difference. Going to the polls and casting your ballot is an honorable way to do that. I encourage you to be a part of the solution to the problems that affect us all. Make your vote count and go to the polls when
there is an election in your area!
I would love to hear from you! Learn more about my professional presentations and trainings at www.ThomasIland.com. Please like Thomas Iland on my social channels for more messages of inspiration.
Tom Iland
Self-Advocate and professional speaker with ASD
Tom Iland has worked hard to overcome challenges presented by his Autism Spectrum Disorder. His achievements include graduating from Cal State University Northridge, becoming a Certified Public Accountant, and working in corporate America. Tom is now pursuing a professional career as a speaker and trainer sharing insights and practical advice with the Autism community. Read more.
Thanks to Emily Iland and Kyle Duffy for helping me tell my story.
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