Next Saturday, April 26, 2008 the voters of the town of Abington in Massachusetts have a choice. The choice is
to either vote Yes or No on a Trash Budget Override. Voting Yes means paying
more taxes. However, the additional money ($650,000) will be available to keep
all the town departments running without cutting any programs or services.
Departments like the Fire Department, Police Department, Library, and School
Department. Also, a Yes vote means that the trash budget and how trash is pciked up will not change.
Voting No will result in no tax changes. But, trash will be picked up
differently. The Board of Health will have to make a big decision. One option
is a program called Pay as You Throw where residents will purchase trash bags as
they need them. The other option is that the town would put a fee in place for all residents in
order to get rid of their trash.
As a teenager, I have seen my parents help out on many campaigns and special
elections. Most importantly, I have seen them go and vote. This has taught me
to become involved in my community and encouraged me to express my opinions and
ideas. By choosing not to vote, a small minority of people make big decisions
for the majority of people. Some of the reasons I believe people should vote is
that people are more educated on issues when they vote, society is helped, and
big decisions are made by many people not just the few. If no one votes, people
are not expressing their opinions. It does not matter what the outcome is, it
matters that you participate in the democratic process.
According to U.S. News and World reports, more 18-20 year olds voted for the
American Idol Winner last year than voted in the last presidential election.
Voting is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. One who does not vote, has no right to complain.
Regardless of how you feel, democracy only works if you exercise one of the most
important rights you have as an american. Please express your ideas and beliefs
by going to your local town elections and vote!!