Freedom with Responsibility

Bonner County cannot afford voter apathy. If national and state elections can be determined by razor-thin margins, then a few hundred or less votes can mean the difference as to whether one candidate or another gets in locally.

Parents: If you're reading this and you didn't stand up and be counted, then you need to look your kids in the eyes and be prepared to explain why you're making that choice.

Kids (let's define as not old enough to vote): If your parents respond lamely, "We just don't vote," you respond by saying, "Really, Dad remember the time you wanted to eat Chinese and Mom wanted Italian?" or the family fought for the remote to determine which program or NFL game to watch. Aren't we voting all the time about things that in the long run don't amount to a hill of beans? This town is at a crossroads and important decisions will be made going forward which will determine whether the awesome things that make this place special are retained in the grand scheme or become irrevocably chalked up to the price of "progress." Men and women have given their lives to protect our way of life and maintain this awesome power of deciding which men or women will lead us. We dishonor their sacrifice by not exercising that right.

To the teachers in the community (and we know many of you are already "on it"): Help instill in your students that civic pride. Educate them as to why they should encourage their parents to get out and vote and to question those parents who plan not to. If they say, "One vote won't matter," you remind them about a recent presidential election and one in Washington state. With a few legitimate exceptions for not voting, if you can and don't then what kind of example are you setting for your kids?

PAUL KRAMES

Sagle