NEW CASTLE —
This is the most important election America will ever face.
Inevitably, this is the sort of comment heard around every election. We can’t say that today’s voting is the most significant ever, but it is crucial. All elections are important.
Not only does voting determine who will hold assorted public offices for the next several years, it also serves as an important gauge of public opinion. While polling organizations constantly survey Americans about their views on issues, elections are the ones that count. They register not only opinion, but also intensity of views based on who is determined enough to get out and vote.
Of course, it’s the people who show up at the polls who decide elections. Sadly, most Americans won’t bother, effectively squandering their most important tool for making a difference.
That’s why you have to vote today. In a sense, you will be casting a ballot not only for yourself, but also for people who stay home.
It’s easy to make excuses not to vote — too busy, too disgusted with the choices, too tired of all the negative advertising. But consider this: There are people and organizations out there who don’t want you to vote. They hope you give up, so their efforts at the polls count for more.
The most consequential act of citizenship is voting. Showing up at the polls reminds politicians that you exist and that you must be taken into consideration. People who don’t vote are much easier to dismiss.
So we urge you to exercise your right to vote. Polls remain open today until 8 p.m. That’s plenty of time and opportunity to make your voice heard.
As part of the election process, the New Castle News has offered endorsements in various races to help highlight the contests. We view this as an extension of our responsibility for addressing issues of public importance.
Locally, we are endorsing Democrats Chris Sainato and Jaret Gibbons in the races for state representative in the 9th and 10th districts respectively. And for state Senate in the 47th District, we recommend Republican Elder Vogel.
For Congress, our endorsements go to Republican Mike Kelly in the 3rd District and to Republican Keith Rothfus in the 12th District.
And in statewide contests on the ballot, we are endorsing Democrat Robert Casey for U.S. Senate and Democrat Kathleen Kane for Pennsylvania attorney general.
It does not matter whether you agree or disagree with these endorsements. We don’t expect readers to simply parrot our recommendations. What does matter is that you show up at the polls today and exercise your right to make a choice.
Please vote today. It is important.
Editorials
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Discussion
Decision 2012: Does it matter if you vote today? You bet it does
- Editorials
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Our Opinion: IRS probe may reveal multiple problems
When a murky scandal is investigated, the goal is to obtain clarity, as well as to right any wrongs. But reaching such a conclusion can be a tortuous process. And so it is with the current probe of allegations of political targeting by the Internal Revenue Service.
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Our Opinion: Supreme Court rejects patents on human coding
We can all take comfort in knowing we still retain the rights to our own genetic material. That might seem to be obvious, but a case before the U.S. Supreme Court involved questions over whether private companies could patent human genes as their own.
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Our Opinion: Vo-tech nursing program faces elimination in budget crunch
The past few years have been difficult financially for Pennsylvania’s education system. Tight budgets produced by an economic slowdown, weakening support from Harrisburg and an ever-increasing rise in personnel costs has created a fiscal bind for most school districts, those in Lawrence County included.
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Our Opinion: Government’s seizing records a threat to liberty
(Second of two editorials): America’s director of national intelligence had a ready explanation this week regarding the need to seize everyone’s phone records. “Well, you have to start someplace,” James Clapper told NBC News. Let’s stop and think about that for a moment.
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Our Opinion: News leaks reveal dramatic scope of government data collection
(First of two editorials): In case you had any doubts, Big Brother is watching. And listening. And for all we know, smelling and tasting as well.
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Our Opinion: Pennsylvania has transportation needs, but plan has problems
Spending money on transportation projects is a popular political pastime. After all, what’s not to like about programs that create jobs and make driving smoother and safer? Yes, construction is an inconvenience, but generally, the public understands it’s necessary for the greater good.
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Our Opinion: IRS conferences take advantage of public funds
Things aren’t getting any better for the Internal Revenue Service. In fact, the credibility of the nation’s tax collection organization seems to be eroding away as Americans look on with disgust.
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Our Opinion: Ruling assures sweeping access to DNA
Do you trust government? Well, you better, thanks to a new U.S. Supreme Court decision that gives law enforcement — and ultimately others in government — the ability to access sweeping new information about individuals.
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Our Opinion: Declines recorded all across Lawrence County in latest data
Lawrence County’s long trend of population decline was highlighted when the Census Bureau reported yet another drop. Last month, the bureau said that the county’s population fell from 91,108 in 2010 to 89,871 in 2012. This compares to figures from 1960, when the county’s population was recorded at 112,965.
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Our Opinion: What’s happening with American policy in Syria
In an ideal world, the Obama administration and Congress would agree on a plan regarding Syria. But this is not an ideal world. And it’s certainly not even close to being an ideal world in Washington. So instead of a plan, we get fumbling.
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Our Opinion: IRS probe may reveal multiple problems
