Tallassee Now! - Voting and Doing | Politics

                Tuesday, November 6th, is Election Day.  Voting is extremely important.  We recently completed our City Elections, and on Tuesday, we will make decisions for national, state and local governments.  Voting, along with jury service and military service, have long been regarded as the principle activities for citizens to participate in government and the protection of the rights we hold dear.  Importance of participation in these activities cannot be overestimated.

                National Election Day, like leap year, comes once every four years.  It is one day out of 1461.  The things that we do on the other 1460 days are also important!  Selection of the right leaders of government is important, but in the final analysis, government can only provide the environment in which meaningful life can occur.  Government is not what life is about! 

                Our homes provide rooms and space in which we can be comfortable, and can carry out the activities of life.  Likewise, government simply provides the environment—the space—in which we can exercise our rights.  What we do with the opportunities that we have is the thing that makes the right to create our own government important.  If we do nothing with the opportunities, what is the point?

                We have freedom of religion.  What is the point, if we fail to worship, and fail to develop strong, viable faith that will sustain us?  We have a free economy.  What is the point if we do not work, do not operate businesses, do not develop commerce, so as to improve the quality of life? 

                Neither State nor national government established Tallassee!  Tallassee was established be entrepreneurs with a vision.  It was established by working, God fearing people.  State and national government is not going to sustain us.  It is up to us to take advantage of the rights and opportunities that our form of government provides, if we want to maintain and improve our quality of life.

                Against the background just described, let’s add another guiding principle.  It is easy today to sit in front of a television or computer, and become deeply involved mentally and emotionally with issues about which our only recourse is the opportunity to vote once every 1461 days!  We have only a certain amount of time and energy.  If our emotions and energy are totally spent on matters about which we can do nothing, we have wasted our resources, and have betrayed the very rights that we have sought so hard to protect!

                During the 1460 days between elections, let’s focus on what we can do in Tallassee.  Let’s focus on the things about which we can make a difference:  our schools, churches, hospital, local economy, , and the things that our City, Industrial Development Board, Redevelopment Authority, Planning Commission, Recreation Department, Community Development Corporation and other non-profits can do.  Let’s build community!  Let’s work hard at our jobs, and volunteer time for public service.  Voting is important, but what we do between elections is what makes voting important.

Information Source: Tallassee Chamber of Commerce