Seven Reasons to Vote
by the League of Women Voters
To exercise our most fundamental right.
The right to vote is the most important right of citizenship because it is the only means we have of preserving all our other rights.
To participate in the symbolic act of affirming support for our system of government.
Democracy is a participatory form of government.
To keep government working and to avoid chaos.
Voting is the way that power is transferred in this country in a peaceful and orderly manner.
To express our opinions as individuals.
When the power changes, policies may also change. Unless we vote, we haven't had any say on whether policy should change. Election Day is a giant public opinion poll -- the only one that includes all citizens.
To influence elected officials.
Our vote is our collective power. The group that votes usually gets what it wants; the group that doesn't vote can be ignored.
To send a signal to those elected.
A landslide election will tell those who won that they have a mandate to carry out their programs. Victory by a narrow margin will send a message to the winners to be cautious or to compromise to enlarge their support; thus, votes on the losing side are important in sending this message.
To change the outcome of an election.
In close races, just one vote can change the outcome. That one vote might be YOURS.
from the League of Women Voters
The fundamental don'ts:
DON'T begin on the righteous note of "As a citizen and taxpayer . . ." Your elected representatives assume you are a citizen, they know we all pay taxes.
DON'T apologize for taking his or her time. If you are brief and to the point, he or she is glad to hear from you.
DON'T say "I hope this gets by your secretary." This only irritates the staff.
DON'T be rude or threatening. It will get you nowhere.
DON'T be vague. Some letters received in congressional offices are couched in such general terms that it leaves the senator or representative wondering what the writer had in mind.
Go to the Pray for Peace Workshop to contact elected officials, the media, etc. click here.
Here's why Steamboats.com, Surrealist.org and Pray for Peace News are ANTI-Secession:
People say, "Why should L.A. be one city?" and the answer is that it The City of Los Angeles was historically One, united around the L.A. River. When L.A. was just a pueblo, settlements stretched from the northern San Fernando Valley, through Burbank to Atwater Village, through Silver Lake and Echo Park, to Chinatown and Downtown, and then straight south to the Harbor. The River still runs through the City, and efforts to revive the River include plans for parkland and recreation all along its banks. To read more about the L.A. River and see a steamboat race that took place there on the Fourth of July 2002, click here.
Here are more good reasons to be part of the City of L.A.:
* Los Angeles has been a good place to live for many, many years. The City has reduced smog, revitalized older neighborhoods and attracts tourists from around the world.
* The City of L.A. provides good tree care using methods accepted by licensed arborists. If The Valley succeeds from the City, the leaders might decide to cut the tree care budget and hire unlicensed, cheap labor to trim the trees. (Click here to learn more about the dangers of tree topping.) The City of Beverly Hills had this problem a few years ago. The magnolias on Roxbury Drive and other residential streets received a severe trim that caused permanent damage.
* If landlords violate housing codes, the City of L.A. can discipline the landlord through austere programs, such as the Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP) and Rent Reduction Program (RRP). The Housing Department limits allowable rental increases, requires relocation fees and helps renters in many ways. Secessionists say they will maintain the same standards, but can they? If The Valley leaves L.A., renters may find themselves at the mercy of bad landlords and greedy developers.
* Place a phone call to the bureau of Street Services and the City of L.A. will pick up old furniture, mattresses, etc., and haul them away free. In many independent cities in the County of Los Angeles people have to pay to have junk hauled away, even if someone dumps it unlawfully. The City of L.A. offers a high level of City services compared to many other places.
If you are personally angry about the way Downtown treats you, or if you feel Downtown has ignored your problems, then perhaps you feel breaking away from the City is the only solution. There may be an imbalance of power, but there are less severe alternatives that may help balance things in coming years. We encourage you to look into these options before you vote.
We at Steamboats.com, Surrealist.org and Pray for Peace News support L.A. unity. The Valley risks a messy lose/lose divorce with the City of Los Angeles. Breaking up is hard to do. Vote NO on secession and focus instead on protecting the mountains from further development. If you live in The Valley and want to discuss this issue, please write to me (contact).
Sincerely,
Nori
"Money, influence and position are as nothing compared with brains, principle, energy and perseverance." - Orison Swett Marden, Success Magazine
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