I dare you - make me vote
Published:Saturday | April 26, 2014 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
In elections gone by, I was completely apathetic. I had never exercised my franchise to vote because, frankly, I never felt that any party was worthy of my vote. Having lived under both regimes, I didn't see where either had performed sufficiently well enough, and I was not about to vote in mediocrity.
But I now consider the alternative. By not voting, I have no say in those who lead my country and who sets my taxes and amends my laws and ensures I have access to roads and light and water and garbage collection.
I have no say in who leads the initiatives to fight crime or who makes the call to keep a children's home open. I have no say in who finds a way to improve Jamaica's math and English pass rates or who decides whether I eat foreign peas or peas grown locally.
Whether or not I like it, these people affect my quality of life and my livelihood. And I can't just leave that to chance. Whether or not I vote, someone will win, and I have decided to have a say in who does.
So only this week, I marched myself to the nearest Electoral Office and got enumerated. N.B.: You will not be enumerated wearing a sleeveless shirt. I was turned away because of my brazen flash of shoulder skin. But I digress. This wasn't going to stop me from getting my voter's ID. Determined to vote in the next election, I went home for a sweater and returned to complete the process.
Mr Editor, I use this medium to also pen a letter to both political parties.
Dear People's National Party and Jamaica Labour Party:
I am now on the voters' list. Impress me. I cannot be bought with cash, corned beef or a crate of Guinness. I don't wear free T-shirts and you can't woo me with impassioned rally speeches and lofty promises.
I'm a 32-year-old small business owner who only cares about results and solid plans. And right now, you're pretty much on an even keel.
I will vote in the next election, and who I vote for is completely dependent on how little politics you play and how much nationalism and sensibility you show.
Lights! Camera! Action!
PATRIA-KAYE AARONS