Editor,

Vote – If you care about your personal freedoms. Vote – If you care about your children’s future. Vote –If you care about the women and girls in your life. Vote – If you care about the economy. Vote – If you care about your country’s standing in the world. Vote – If you care about the environment. Vote – If you care about democracy. Vote – If you care about your protections under the rule of law. Vote – If you prefer truth over lies and good over evil.

Exercise your unique right and your responsibility. Vote – If you are disenchanted, if you think that your vote does not count, you are wrong. It is one of the remaining ways for you to exercise your personal power and influence; our system is still designed that way. And if you feel that our choices this time amount to the “lesser of two evils” – a responsible person does not sit out – a responsible person chooses the “lesser” and votes.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires at least minimal participation from all who enjoy its freedoms – especially now. Our way of life, our democratic system is under attack at this very moment and its fate will be decided in the upcoming election. I challenge all good people to step up, become active in any way you can between now and November 2024 to save our country. Write letters, go door to door, host discussion groups, anything you can do. This is not someone else’s job. This time, this election, it is we the people who can and must make the difference. And then, come November, vote!

Dan N. Bond, MSW

Coupeville