OPINION: We have voting power
By Jannie Johnson
JA Guest Writer
It’s voting time again, Nov 4th. Candidates are vying to stay in office, replace incumbents or fill upcoming vacancies.
We, the registered voters, are preparing to do our civic duty: VOTE. Our job as voters is the determining factor in putting together the work force for our businesses and the government. We, the taxpayers, are the employers. We have to meet payroll monthly, weekly or biweekly.
In times like these, we can’t afford to put folks on the payroll to advance their careers, improve their lives or give them super benefits and perks, with little or no supervision. Such behavior on our part has caused us to suffer financially in many ways and in many places. We need to tighten up the purse string, be more responsible and hold employees accountable for producing. Or, we can replace them with folks who have the know-how, availability and willingness to be servants of the people and for the people.
As we read the candidates’ impressive resumes and listen to their ads, let’s remember who we are! We have the voting power. We are the employers; we do the hiring and firing. So, before we vote, let’s bother ourselves to know more about the candidates’ integrity, trustworthiness, moral standard, work ethics and their work records, too. That kind of information can give us a better idea as to what quality of work we can expect before we add them to the payroll.
Our business – the government – needs leaders who are wise statesmen/stateswomen who can see beyond sight and hear beyond sound. They should be able to feel unrest and disharmony in the home and among co-workers before domestic violence, divorce, child neglect, and mass shootings. (That sounds like a God-factor.) Our leaders need more than their intellect to keep them focused on doing right and going straight in sight, out of sight and in the cover of the night. But, with no Bible, no prayer, no God, they are without a moral compass. Our customized version of what is right or wrong, honest or dishonest is NO match for man’s base instinct to lie, cheat, fight, steal and kill for personal gain.
To be honest or dishonest is personal choice, deed by deed and day after day. It’s not the choice of a party. Dishonesty is like a virus; it spreads and creates sicknesses, diseases and deaths. (Sometimes it’s called corruption.)
Voting is serious business, particularly for those of us who know that our votes can send some public officials back to their posts, some back to the house and some we’ll add to the payroll. We have that kind of power, voting power! So… at the end of the Election Day, let’s whisper a prayer that we’ve made the right choices and the men and women we’ve chosen will do their jobs as unto the Lord and they will… not…make… us … shame!
