How Come More People Don't Vote?

The Upper Basin Chronicles

Chapter 30

How Come More People Don't Vote?

"So, Dad," said young Michael Murphy, "how come more people don't vote?" The two were cleaning the very last of 2001 corn out of the family's single round grain bin. The scrape of aluminum scoop shovels on concrete was about to give way to the broom.

"Good question, bud. A lot of politicians would like to know the answer to that one! Are you studying democracy?" Alexander returned.

"Yep," said the sixth grader as he leaned his scoop against the bin wall, and picked up the big broom. The echoes of their voice floated around inside the bin.

"My fellow citizens..." boomed Michael into the hollow bin, trying out a leadership tone.

"Your fellow citizens don't vote for many reasons -- like apathy, cynicism, distrust, feelings of powerlessness and isolation."

"Yeah, weird, huh? I mean, it's not that hard. And look at what the kids in Minnesota did. They helped elect Jesse Ventura governor!"

"They sure did, Michael. That turned some heads. The 18 year-olds who helped elect Jesse are now 22. Yet, from what I can tell, many of them wouldn't vote for him now if he were running. People want good leaders."

"It takes more than a body slam, I guess," offered Michael.

"That it does. Yet, Jesse Ventura says he started trying to change the system because of a wetland. I take him at his word. He made the effort, but he may not be in it for the right reasons. I read that he didn't bother to vote in the primary this fall. Not a good example for kids like you."

"Yeah, he seems like he's more focused on himself. But I still don't get it why people don't just go vote! You always took us kids to the town hall when you voted. It's exciting, I think!"

"You know, Michael, I think people are put off by the knowledge campaign money plays such a big role in government, especially state and federal government. That's why our own congressional representative, Jim Leach, and senators like John McCain, and our Wisconsin neighbor Russ Feingold, work very hard to fight that, to get the big corporate money out of campaigns."

"So, that's good, right? I mean, did they fix it?" asked Michael.

"Well, son, it's an uphill battle. The Congress made some real changes that improved things, but once people get into the habit of not voting, it takes some doing to get them back to the polling places."

"Like what? What makes people go vote?"

"Ah, usually, it's something personal, often a word from a friend or a respected associate, or strong feelings about an issue they regard as having a direct effect on their lives," Alexander replied.

"Like what issues, Dad? Name one."

"Ok, in Iowa, feedlots is a big one. With margins -- what's left after expenses -- per animal very small these days, farmers and corporate owners have tended to put more animals together to create efficiency, and to cut costs. This concentration of beasts in one place, as you know well from personal experience, creates a mess."

"Right, I get it! The town kids at school talk about what their parents say. And the manure has to go somewhere, and sometimes it breaks out and makes a bigger mess. So people will vote because of manure!?"

"Absolutely, and it's a good thing, too. The fact is that Iowa has rich farmland. We raise grain and hay -- animal feed. People want to buy animals that eat the feed, the cattle, hogs, chickens, and turkeys to put on the table to feed their families. Feedlots in Iowa aren't going away any time soon. So, the people with a personal connection to feedlots -- they have one, they work in one, the own animals -- will tend to get out to vote when feedlots are an issue in an election."

Alexander took a breath. He was enjoying this civics lesson with his son. Michael was engaged and raising dust with his broom.

"But, what about the people who think feedlots stink, and pollute the water, and the air, and such?" he queried.

"Well, what do you think, son? Do they have a point, or shall we pass a law that says they can't say that, or photograph it, or just not listen to them?"

"No way, Dad! Manure does stink, and people have died from the gas, and you can't drink the water it touches, either."

"OK, then, that's why we vote. That's why we have to vote, because if we don't, lots of voices don't get heard, and big money tends to fill the void. Democracy is about many voices. It's about finding consensus, finding some middle ground that most of us can agree with. We vote for leaders and legislators who can help us to figure out how to have feedlots for farmers and companies to make a living, yet that don't poison the water or the people downstream, or stink up the neighborhood for miles around so that no one wants to raise a family here."

"I'll vote for that! But, I still have seven years to go before I can." Michael said.

"Don't worry, Michael, you'll get to vote on it. Democracy moves kind of slow, but it gets there, mostly."

Alexander let his words drift with dust in the bin while he stepped out the door toward the next task.

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Next week..."Cleaner, Dirtier, or the Same?," Chapter 31.

Thanks to resources:
Rock the Vote
The League of Women Voters
Project Vote Smart
National Mail Voter Registration Form (accepted in nearly every state)
League of Conservation Voters

The Upper Basin Chronicles, Chapter 30 was written and edited by John Gabbert.

Your comments are much appreciated. Email feedback to The Upper Basin Chronicles, Chapter 30.

The characters presented here are purely fictional, and neither bear resemblance to persons living or dead, nor represent the views or opinions of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.