Every two years we are called to exercise our right and our duty as citizens of the United States of America and vote.
As children we learn that we must earn our privileges and freedoms, our fun if you will, by being responsible, doing our chores and contributing to the family.
As adults we must take this responsibility to vote and earn our freedoms.
It can be difficult to know how to vote and who to vote for.
Perhaps we can pick an issue or two that matters to us — health care, environment, jobs, taxes — and find out how a candidate voted or says that s/he would vote for a specific issue. And then question yourself.
Do you want to elect someone who will vote to cut Medicaid, food stamps or unemployment benefits? What does this mean to you or your neighbors? Try to make the issue personal and local — how would it affect your community?
Try to understand the reality of unemployment benefits for the person who loses a job through no fault of her/his own — how exactly do you think that this person will be able to pay rent or electrify if benefits are cut — try to imagine what you would do if you lost your job.
What about environmental issues — clean air and clean water — how can this not matter to you — think of your children and their children and the legacy we are giving them.
Try to learn what is going on in your community.
Yes — there are many, perhaps too many, issues — please, just pick one and learn about it. It is so easy with the Internet to find out for yourself what is happening, what is the truth.
These are difficult times — how to make the right choice can be confusing or even scary.
Don’t let the media convince you that your vote will not count, that your voice will not be heard — it will only not be heard if you don’t use it.
We as a country must take responsibility; we must learn to vote not only as patriots, not only as Christians, not only from our past — but for our future. We must know how our choices affect ourselves, our families, our communities, our country and yes, even the whole world.
We must get past the emotional issues and ask ourselves and our candidates — how can we create jobs here in our communities — how can we care for the poor and needy — how can we heal our communities and get past our fears and re-build our country.
Ask your candidates how they did or would and will vote on what truly matters to you and then use your voice — cast your vote on National Election Day.
Dale Brady
Romney, W.Va.
Letters
Ask candidates how they would vote on issues
- Letters
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Walk Smart
Many local residents will be visiting Ocean City this summer, so it is worth noting that the resort has launched a campaign that it hopes will keep pedestrians out of harm’s way.
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Trailer case bound to increase scrutiny on town of Piedmont
This letter is in response to the recent story concerning the guilty plea entered in federal court by Piedmont’s town foreman (“Piedmont town foreman Shingler enters guilty plea,” May 21 Times-News, Page 1A).
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Fixing community’s problems starts with your young people
I am writing this letter to the editor because I think our community really needs to work on plenty of issues. Some of them are:
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Why are there no answers to these questions?
We currently have the most corrupt administration in the history of the country. Every day more and more lies come from the Obama administration.
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Roaming dogs prove menace to some residents of LaVale
I am writing to inform your readers and the animal control staff of Allegany about a problem that is dragging on and unresolved, yet.
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These types should look to the Boy Scouts for an example
Consider these headlines:
NRA will “Never Surrender.”
The Tea Party will “Never Surrender.”
The No Tax Group will “Never surrender.”
Neocons will “Never Surrender.”
Far Left Liberals will “Never Surrender.” -
Housing project will have bad effect on property in this area
I am writing to you to voice my opposition to a low income housing project that has been proposed for construction on a tract of land on Pine Swamp Road in Mineral County, W.Va. I am a registered voter and resident of Mineral County and live in the New Creek/Pine Swamp area.
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Why have the media been silent all this time?
When I read the Cumberland Times-News Editorial this morning, Friday, May 17, entitled, “Outrageous,” I laughed like a kid at a birthday party!
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What are chances this much money will be spent on road?
I was intrigued by cost data summarized in reporter Kathy Mellott’s recent article, “Completing southern link of U.S. Route 219 said to be best use of highway funds,” which appeared in the Cumberland Times-News on Tuesday May 14 (Page 1A).
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School board should be doing better job with less money
The Allegany County Teachers Association (ACTA) board of directors recently submitted a letter to the editor asking the Allegany County commissioners to fully fund the Board of Education’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year (“Commissioners should fund school board request,” April 29 Times-News).
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