Tom Conroy for State Representative

“Why Don’t You Vote?”

 At Red’s Sandwich Shop in Salem, which was packed, I met several folks, going table to table.  I enjoy these friendly conversations, and this time, one discussion stood out.  At a table of twenty-somethings, we talked about Twitter and Facebook, of course, but also voting.  Three of the six had not registered.  When asked why not, I saw and heard a familiar refrain:  a shrug and “it doesn’t matter.”  Young people don’t sense that what happens in Washington or Beacon Hill has any effect on them.  One said that if he registered to vote, the only “right” he would get is jury duty, a burden.  I mentioned how serving on a jury can be a very illuminating experience, a first hand look at our justice system.  More shrugs. 

When I turned 18, when I went to register to vote, I had to also register for the draft.  Those were Dad’s orders, anyway.  My father had served in the Army in Vietnam, and he was big on duty, responsibility, and patriotism.  He went to Vietnam believing we needed to roll back the tide of communism, but he returned an ardent opponent of the war.  “I saw too many 19 year olds leaving in body bags” he told my brothers and me when we were old enough to understand.  And he didn’t believe in taking over other people’s countries, militarily, as imperialists.  Not the American way. 

Met several people along Essex Street in downtown Salem, in and around the many shops and stalls. Mary is “fed up” at Washington and is so discouraged that she doesn’t think she’ll vote.  She doesn’t think anyone truly speaks for her.  Ralph is so angry at politicians it took him about five minutes of venting at me about no one listening before we were able to have a discussion on potential solutions, and why I’m not a typical politician, but a public servant who wants to truly represent the people.  It takes patience, persistence, and politesse to demonstrate this and how important everyone’s votes are, how essential an engaged and educated populace is in a representative democracy.  

I’m listening.  I’ll be your voice.  I’m here to serve you, our Commonwealth, and our country. 

Cheers,

Tom

Miles:  7.8

Total Miles:   587.8

Encounters with Voters:   78

Total encounters with voters:   2,470