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Show r'LEGISLATION q[ At the beginning of an election year, when the people Gf the United states will elect candidates to the highest offices of Qur landg eaoh citizen should be alerted to the problems facing us. The veting booth is our symbol of freedom and legislation the life line of democracy. In maintaining our tw party system we assert a measure of proteeti0n from the unscrpulous acts of dictator minded persons and the experienoes of Communist dominated countries. Apathy is the disease tha.t destroys freedom" Apathy is the ally of those who would destry our way ot life and take away frem us the freedoms we enjoyo Apathy in polities and legislative matters is far teo often the attitude of the American public. As concerned citizens it is our duty to use every measure available to us te bring to the attenti®n of others the urgency of protecting our democratic way <Df li£eo' It is apalling to contemplate that in a. year when the heaviest Presidential vote was east, forty million registered voters did not go te the pollst Review your own state and loca.l records apply percentages to the number of persons casting ballo.ts and the umber of registered v0ters You will find that in you will" and should be shocked at the results. many instanees, especially at a 10eal level, that 10% or less of the registered voters deoide issues and elect officials. In an "off" year when :many United state Senat()rs and members (!)f tlrle H(!)use of Represe:m.tatives are elected; less than 50% of the registered voters go to the polls. Your are just as important to y®ur community as are local school elections National electi0ns. Each and every cd tize:n should feel wi thin him that voting is not a duty, but a privilege. It is a privilege that was n®t easily won, as tne pages of histor,y will reveal. It is a privilege that was paid for in tears a.nd the bl$0d of patriots. H0W then can we .. as enlightened people, treat this privilege so lightly? Each concerned person sheul.d pledge to himself to east a ballot in ever.? election where he is qualified to veteo can Women are a powerful group, when organized, and their v$iee and vote be an influential ferce in shaping the destiny of our state and Nation. There few communities where women, eligible to vote, are net in the Women fought leng and hard for the right to vote yet forty-three years after their revolutiona.r,y strggle for the franchise, wemen still do not register and vote in the same proportion as men. How can we as clubs and individuals alert women to their obligation? are majority. Eaeh eluQ member shuld be made aware of the necessity of being registered te vote. Each member should be urged to be a committee of to alert all eligible members of her family and her assoeiates to the importanee or registering and voting. one Legislation ehairmen sh$u1d arrange for their club to sponsor study groups, symp0siums, panel discussions and arrange programs udy law making processes learn how bills are prepared sponsoredlcand passed. Arrange Visits to the State Legislature when it is in session. Know hw your School Board, Town Ceuncil; City Government, State Goverment, and judicial system functions. ) |
