Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/728967
Make your voice heard One of our nation's foundational principles is that we, the people, are governed by consent. Governments are formed and leaders serve only at the desire of those who elect them. Founding Father Samuel Adams said this about voting: "Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual… but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." For many people, it is not always easy to get energized about taking part in a political process that can often be contentious. It is particularly the case during this presidential election season, which has been an unusual and unconventional one in several respects. Rather than face the prospect of having to support a candidate they do not like, some have said they will forfeit their vote entirely. While they believe such a protest may be their only option, refusing to vote altogether fails to consider that other races still matter. Government manages our lives at every turn, especially here in California, where the bureaucratic state continues to grow and encroach on our freedoms. Just recently, Democrats in the Senate approved legislation to impose even greater restrictions on Second Amendment Rights and the religious freedoms of private, faith-based colleges and universities. We cannot pursue changes and reforms, however, if we are not making our voices heard at the polls. There are a lot of good people running to represent us at all levels of government including our city councils, county boards of supervisors, school boards, and others. We need to support them, regardless of what is happening at the top of the ticket. Fundamentally, as citizens of history's most significant experiment in democracy, we should participate in every election in deference to our republic's heritage. We honor the service and sacrifice of generations of veterans, as well as the resolve of their loved ones, by fully embracing the privileges this country affords us. We cannot lose sight that it is a gift to live in this country and one that should never be taken for granted. We do that first by ensuring that we work to elect principled leadership at all levels of government, entrusting them with the solemn task of upholding liberty that makes America a beacon of freedom in the world. Senator Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga, represents the 23rd Senate District in the California Legislature. By Senator Mike Morrell