Informed voters key to good governance
Election year 2024’s political climate continues to heat up with the likelihood of another tempest of record proportion.
And that’s unfortunate.
When rhetoric reigns, bold promises thunder and emotions flash, it’s easy to lose sight of why we not only weather the storm but embrace it: We, as Americans, have an obligation to our elected form of governance.
We, as Americans, understand that voting is more than a right: It is a duty, a duty that must be performed to the best our individual ability.
That is our bedrock.
We concede that the philosophy of “team politics” with its blind adherence to this party or that or loyalty to a particular candidate has become a bunker for many on the state and national front.
We concede that campaigns focused solely on a hot-button issue or two can drive and determine local races.
But we believe that the truism cited by founder Thomas Jefferson back in 1789 when he was explaining the strength of a new form of government to a detractor: “Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government…”
On the national level, the two major party candidates for the Office of President, incumbent Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump, have agreed to televised debates.
Hosted by CNN, the first is scheduled for next Thursday, June 27, in Atlanta. It is slated to start at 9 p.m.
To be hosted by ABC, the second is scheduled for Sept. 10.
If conducted well, these forums will add a unique perspective on the face of these candidacies, if not their depth.
On the local level, there are a multitude of key races up for grabs — seats on the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Board; a first-time-since-the-’70s race for Lee County superintendent of schools; one at-large and two district-only school board races; two at-large county commission races and three constitutional office races as well as state House and Senate races.
Local races are the ones that most impact our day-to-day lives — and pocketbooks.
While mailers, websites and other political advertising funded by candidate campaigns may abound, debates or multi-candidate Q&As are scant.
It’s a tad tougher to become informed although we believe that local media outlets, including The Breeze, do a good job with pre-election coverage.
A list of the candidates who qualified last Friday for the various local seats and offices may be found on the Breeze website at www.capecoralbreeze.com
We have two elections rapidly approaching — the Aug. 20 Primary and the Nov. 5 General Election.
Let us quote Thomas Jefferson again: “The government you elect is the government you deserve.”
If our belief is we deserve better, we, as voters, must do better.
If casting a ballot is the foundation of sound governance, information is its underpinning.
There is ample opportunity to be well informed.
May we all take advantage of it this election season as the political winds blow.