Baker: Stakes too high not to vote

By Linda Renee Baker, University Professor, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute

Today we in Illinois are again called to our highest responsibility: the responsibility, as citizens, to cast our votes to choose the public officials we deem in our collective wisdom to be most fit to govern the land.

These elections are charged with choosing from amongst the multiple candidates for various federal, state and local offices. This blog has in the past discussed some of the most pressing issues facing our state and nation, issues which each voter’s choice of candidate will significantly shape as they are considered in our various legislative, executive and judicial offices. Issues like the appropriate balance between taxing and spending by various units of government, unfunded pension liabilities, education funding, ethics rules, infrastructure and capital needs of the state and nation, the ongoing challenges facing the healthcare system and others.

One of the most effective ways that we as citizens can make our views known is at the ballot box. In Illinois we have taken multiple steps to ensure that voting is as easy as possible for anyone wishing to cast a ballot. These measures include absentee voting and early voting. If you have not taken advantage of the early voting option, that time is past.

If you happen to miss all of the aforementioned opportunities, you can still go to the polls to make your voice heard. The issues we face are too important and the stakes are far too high to be left only to the small and steadily diminishing portion of citizens who bother to vote. Every citizen’s input is important to the process.

Illinoisans are called upon to choose their next United States Senator, to re-elect or replace incumbent members of the U.S. House of Representatives, to choose a Governor, state representatives and others. Illinois’ recent history continues to shape our political present, with the intertwined stories of President Obama’s historic election and the jockeying to replace him in the U.S. Senate leading to then-Governor Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment and criminal trial providing the backdrop and context for both our senate and gubernatorial choices. The United States Senate race features Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and U.S. Representative Mark Kirk as the primary candidates, along with significant challenges from Green, Independent and Libertarian Party candidates.

Appointed Governor Pat Quinn faces State Senator Bill Brady in the governor’s race, with Governor Quinn including as his running mate Sheila Simon, running against Jason Plummer of Madison County.

State Representative David Miller faces former State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka in the race for State Comptroller. Robin Kelly, former State Representative and current Chief of Staff to State Treasurer Giannoulias, is running to fill the seat to be vacated by her employer against State Senator Dan Rutherford. Incumbent Secretary of State Jesse White is seeking re-election, as are every State Representative and many State Senators.

A defining feature in this campaign season has been voter anger, fear, frustration and disenchantment. Please be aware of the very intense feelings and views that motivate people and if approached, exchange views in a friendly and respectful fashion. Recent news has sadly shown quite clearly the lengths to which frustrated citizens will go when they feel as if their rights and their future are threatened. Our nation has been fortunate to not experience the degree of difficulties at election time that many countries routinely face. Let us all do our best to ensure that it stays that way.

And lastly, remember the sacrifices made by the many to extend the franchise to each and every one of us. I recall the sight of sick and infirm people being brought to the polls on stretchers in South Africa, or risking bombs and threats of violence in Afghanistan and Iraq, all to exercise their right and do that which had been denied to them for so long – the right to vote. Don’t be discouraged by long lines and waiting times at the polls. Be aware that many others will be trying to vote, particularly at the peak times before and after the workday. If lines are long at your local polling place, plan your day accordingly. Opt for off-peak times, such as late morning, early or late lunch breaks or mid-afternoon. Do not let long lines deter you from exercising your right. Don’t let apathy win the day.

The polls remain open until 7:00 p.m. To vote you must be a registered voter. I encourage everyone to bring the necessary identification to avoid any potential problem that may make it difficult to cast your vote. If you encounter any problems with voting, don’t give up. Election judges are present at all polling places to help you exercise your democratic right as a United States Citizen.

This multitude of races and candidates surely offers many choices for us all. The stakes are too high for anyone to passively remain on the sidelines. The most important choice is the choice to vote. Please do so.

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 Linda Renee Baker

1 Comment to Baker: Stakes too high not to vote

David Dzidzikashvili
November 18, 2010

Economic difficulties are very real, just look at the main economic factors. High unemployment with increased foreclosure rates, banks violating foreclosure laws, the middle-class is getting screwed every single day and it keeps shrinking. Middle class is the backbone of the American economy and the future of the United States. Nothing has been done, or to be more correct there are no real results that show us positive economic trends for the future… I don’t think it’s correct to try to estimate our economic well being with Dow Jones numbers, there are many more complex economic factors at play… What’s even worse is that the Fed has run out of tools to deal with the situation.

The Republicans have captured majority in the House but that does not guarantee the GOP automatic win in 2012. If the GOP won’t be able to deliver what it has promised, they will be in the same situation as Democrats today…and time is working against both parties, much needs to be done very soon, unfortunately for some politicians they’d rather spend their time for political infighting and other obscure reasons, rather than try to decrease unemployment and create real solutions for our economic woes.

Just look at these facts:

#1 Ten years ago, the United States was ranked number one in average wealth per adult. In 2010, the United States has fallen to seventh.

#2 The United States once had the highest proportion of young adults with post-secondary degrees in the world. Today, the U.S. has fallen to 12th.

#3 In the 2009 “prosperity index” published by the Legatum Institute, the United States was ranked as just the ninth most prosperous country in the world. That was down five places from 2008.

#4 In 2001, the United States ranked fourth in the world in per capita broadband Internet use. Today it ranks 15th.

#5 The economy of India is projected to become larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2050.

#6 One prominent economist now says that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2040.

#7 According to a new study conducted by Thomson Reuters, China could become the global leader in patent filings by next year.

#8 The United States has lost approximately 42,400 factories since 2001.

#9 The United States has lost a staggering 32 percent of its manufacturing jobs since the year 2000.

#10 Manufacturing employment in the U.S. computer industry is actually lower in 2010 than it was in 1975.

#11 In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of all U.S. economic output. In 2008, it represented only 11.5 percent.

#12 The television manufacturing industry began in the United States. So how many televisions are manufactured in the United States today? According to Princeton University economist Alan S. Blinder, the grand total is zero.

#13 As of the end of 2009, less than 12 million Americans worked in manufacturing. The last time that less than 12 million Americans were employed in manufacturing was in 1941.

#14 Back in 1980, the United States imported approximately 37 percent of the oil that we use. Now we import nearly 60 percent of the oil that we use.

#15 The U.S. trade deficit is running about 40 or 50 billion dollars a month in 2010. That means that by the end of the year approximately half a trillion dollars (or more) will have left the United States for good.

#16 Between 2000 and 2009, America’s trade deficit with China increased nearly 300 percent.

#17 Today, the United States spends approximately $3.90 on Chinese goods for every $1 that China spends on goods from the United States.

#18 According to a new study conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, if the U.S. trade deficit with China continues to increase at its current rate, the U.S. economy will lose over half a million jobs this year alone.

#19 American 15-year-olds do not even rank in the top half of all advanced nations when it comes to math or science literacy.

#20 Median household income in the U.S. declined from $51,726 in 2008 to $50,221 in 2009. That was the second yearly decline in a row.

#21 The United States has the third worst poverty rate among the advanced nations tracked by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

#22 Since the Federal Reserve was created in 1913, the U.S. dollar has lost over 95 percent of its purchasing power.

#23 U.S. government spending as a percentage of GDP is now up to approximately 36 percent.

#24 The Congressional Budget Office is projecting that U.S. government public debt will hit 716 percent of GDP by the year 2080.

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