Poll agreement: One sad statement about stats from this year's poll -- many still don't vote

Here's the good news: So many Americans are so sick of what they are hearing out of Washington, D.C., that they are more determined than ever not only to vote in the upcoming election, but to be knowledgeable about the races when they do.

Hallelujah.

But there is bad news, too, and you see it in just about every poll you are reading about this election season.

And the news is not that much different from what it always is when there is an election looming.

A very small number of Americans are expected to vote this November.

In some cases, that is probably a good thing. There are plenty of people who barely know who is running, let alone what platforms they are running on. They have no business anywhere near a voting booth. Same holds true for those who are willing to sell their votes to the highest bidder or who vote straight any party -- that is not the best way to pick leaders.

So, while we celebrate a blip of interest in Election Day 2010, other nations around the world would be horrified by Americans' apathy when it comes to voting. They would give anything to be able to express their views on the direction their country should take.

And perhaps the interest in the fall election is a sign that Americans are starting to get the message, too -- democracy only works if the people take an interest in making the decisions and picking their leaders.

No matter what the outcome of November's vote, this time, it will be a bit more of the voice of the people -- and that is a good sign for the future of this country.

Published in Editorials on September 28, 2010 10:56 AM