“Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” - Abraham Lincoln.
Throughout recent modern history the right to vote has been a long sought privilidge. In 21st century Ireland we are fortunate enough to have such a privilege available to every adult citizen. Undoubtedly the right to vote is something of honour, something to be cherished. Some people in this country believe voting should be made compulsory by law, I completely and unequivocally disagree. To me, the right to have your voice heard is something so powerful and influential in our society that this debate leads to one simple conclusion: if you're too foolish to understand the worth of the vote, you are too foolish to vote. The basis for my conclusion has simple concise roots, all deriving from the passage of time: the past, the present and the future.
Generation of men, women and children; our ancestors, have laid their lives on the line to be allowed to cast their vote; for us to be allowed to cast our vote. For us today, it has hard to believe that across the world only the elite could vote: only landowning males. Women forced into silence. Racial minorities silent. Disabled people silent. Today, we are free. Free to be seen and heard. So, to those who disregard the fight fought by our forefathers: I must disregard you.
Susan B. Anthony: arrested, tried, and convicted of illegally casting a vote because she was a woman. Emily Davison: threw herself under the horses at the Derby horse race in England, campaigning for 'Votes for Women'. Vernon Ferdinand Dahmer: his house was firebombed offered to pay taxes for those who couldn't afford the fee required to vote. Rev. George Lee: murdered for being one of the first black people registered to vote in his County and for used his pulpit to urge others to vote. Jonathan Myrick Daniels: a caucasian student who was arrested, jailed, murdered by police after coming to Alabama to help with black voter registration. For these martyr's of the vote to see such a lack of respect for the vote, for their lives; i'm sure they'd agree that those who are ignorant enough to not cast a vote should not be made to cast an invalid ignorant opinion.
With Ireland's current economic climate, it is more pressing than ever to have well constructed decisions made. The Journal.ie told how a Millward Brown Poll showed that three quarters of Irish people are dissatisfied with our government's performance. Turnout's at general elections throughout the 2000's have averaged out at 50.5% however. Therefore there is a lapse of at least 25% of all Irish adults who's opinion is unworthy of any mention on the Journal.ie. If asked in a restaurant what i wanted to eat and I reply "whatever the majority of the rest are having" and I get Haggis... I can't complain. It would be my own fault, and so if you don't take the opportunity to have your say known you can't complain later and you most certainly should not be included by law in any future elections.
As a female who recently became an adult, I'm pleased to say that one of the first things I did was to register to vote on www.vote.ie. I want the politicians to hear me, my worries, my hopes, my dreams. With one fifth of people on the Live Register under 25 years old it is ridiculous for us not to have our say when the opportunity arises. Although I don't believe it would be wise to force the vote on those unworthy, I would like to stress the importance of appreciating the chance we are being given to vote. Seize that opportunity. Have your say.
The past was laiden with the blood of those who realised how important the vote was and died for it and for us. The present is bleak in that the so many of us are too blind to see what power could be in our hands. Hopefully however the future in bright. As somewhat of an idealist, I hope to see the voting age lowered to 16 so that the opinions of the youth and future of our nation can be appreciated. Mostly I hope to see those who are able take pen to paper and tick that preferred box. Until that day comes however leave the vote in the hands of those who deserve it. Don't force it on those who can't see what a privilege, joy and oppurtunity it is.
M.L