By Craig P. Dixon, southcoast247.com correspondent
photo from the Standard-Times - Peter Perreira. Social Commentary 131
October 10th, 2007
Last week's New Bedford City Council preliminary election had a historically low turnout. Less than 13 percent of the city's registered took the time to vote.
Though I cast my vote, the turnout doesn't surprise me. This City Council race reminded me of a South Park episode I caught awhile back meant to satirize the Presidential Election. The children of South Park Elementary were to vote on changing their school's mascot (The Cows) to another.
Their choices? A Giant Douche and a Turd Sandwich.
Given that kind of decision, you can't help backing the boys after they refuse to vote. After all, there's very little difference between Giant Douches and Turd Sandwiches. They're both horrible choices, and in no way should represent the community.
Eventually, the kids are harassed by the South Park locals, the pro-Douche's and pro-Turd's and whatnot. They're referred to as un-Patriotic for refusing to vote. Then ungrateful, because, dontcha know? Grandpa fought the Gerries and the Japs to make sure you still had the freedom, the right, and the ability to vote for a Giant Douche or a Turd Sandwich. Even P-Diddy comes to town, threatening to kill the kids if they didn't vote as part of his "Vote Or Die" campaign.
By the end of the episode, voting seems no longer a right, but an obligation. There is no choice. The very FREEDOM our forefathers fought for in distant exotic lands is now overlooked when it comes to suffrage. If you don't vote, you might as well turn Al Qaeda. You're a persona non grata in American eyes.
A sense of duty brought me to the ballot box last week. And obligation brings me to the polls nearly 90 percent of the time. It's a rarity, indeed, when I'm actually looking forward to vote.
Let's face it. Most of the time, voters are given little, if any, choice. Democrat or Republican, no matter whom you choose, it is just another puppet obeying the whims of similar corporate masters. Money rules the political day. You've got to have and spend it if you want to win. Unless major reforms are made, that's the way it'll remain.
The candidates have only themselves to blame for this voter apathy. I saw few big signs advertising new candidacies along New Bedford streets, and very few ads in the S-T. There wasn't a single debate for the heavily contested Councilor-At-Large positions. It's little wonder that few showed up to vote.
It's a bigger shock that anyone voted at all.
Last week's New Bedford City Council preliminary election had a historically low turnout. Less than 13 percent of the city's registered took the time to vote.
