Voting has consequences, same with not voting.  If you voted last Tuesday, you may or may not have gotten your choice; if you didn’t vote, you don’t have a choice.

If you voted “Team R”  congratulations, you won. But the game is just starting, and unfortunately there is only one team on the field — and no referees.

One party continues to control government in Michigan.  There are no checks and balances in the state legislature.  There is nothing to stop big money and outside groups from controlling our future. It’s likely we’ll continue on the path of privatization and corporatization. You may not have voted for that, but there are consequences to voting.

If you voted based on a single issue, primarily guns and abortion, there are consequences.  There’s a good chance you’ll be living in a state where the  tailgater on his 6th beer is carrying a concealed weapon;  same for the visitor to your child’s classroom, and your hospital room.   Taking away sources of  birth control, sex education, and health screenings only contributes to the problem of unwanted pregnancy. These actions unfairly affect poor women; those that can afford it will always be able to make their own medical decisions.

And if you voted simply because you hate President Obama — sorry, he wasn’t on the ballot, he’s not running again.

I didn’t vote any of these, yet we all have to live with the consequences. Aaron Miller and John Proos have asked us to hold them accountable in Lansing, and I hope we all do that.  I hope we learn about the issues and watch to see if they are voting their conscience, or just towing the party line.  I hope we follow the money to see where their allegiance lies — to their constituents or to their donors.

I hope we will all watch carefully to see if they are representing us, or just insuring their reelection.

 

Cathy LaPointe

Cassopolis