Vote your informed conscience

I was going to refrain from submitting any more letters until after the election. But I’ve been hearing a lot discouragement from people who are threatening not to vote. I ask that these words of encouragement be printed.

Hear me, my fellow citizens! Despite the way current politicians are acting and campaigning, it is dangerous to let your disgust make you silent and deny your own power. Consider these words:

Why does Washington listen to special interests so much? Special interests pay to regularly communicate to government. We citizens are mostly silent until it’s too late for our greater power to work.

Why does money seem to control U.S. politics? Money leverages a few voices to fill the vacuum created by a mostly silent majority. Citizen silence — from complacency or fear — always empowers special interests and the Big Boys to make government bully Americans in their favor.

Abandoning confidence that individual Americans have the power to make a difference mocks the American Dream — and is the perfect death wish for our country.

Voting for a likely winner naturally makes you a victim of propaganda. Voting the way your favorite media personalities say naturally makes you a puppet of money and prejudice.

Reassert the right to have government accountable to you. Vote your informed conscience.

Stuart Thompson

Wasilla