A couple of tidbits worth passing along on this 2012 Election Day.
First, a great story out of Detroit, about a really deadicated voter. Man keels over at the polls, stops breathing, is revived, but refuses medical treatment until he’s assured that his vote counts. Take a look…
Unattended? Hard to tell…
And a little closer to home, we received a few emails from sign holders working outside the Groton Middle School, where precincts two and three vote. They, all Dems, were concerned that a large Romney/Ryan sign was strung up on the school lawn, but was unattended most or all day, in violation of Groton town bylaws. Town Clerk Michael Bouchard said he’d be checking it out.
Lightened up. What difference does a sign make? My neighbor misguided as she is, is one of the very nicest people in the world, yes I’m referring to you Cindy!, always has some Republican-focused signage on her lawn. When I see it I am always slightly offended and think briefly of replying with my own countering lawn sign. However the thought quickly passes. For me the occasionally somewhat offensive; at least to me, an extremely left-wing democrat; signage is a very easy trade-off for a truly lovely neighbor!
Does anyone really feel that a sign, manned or unmanned, will truly influence a voter’s choice as they head for the polls? All you knuckleheads who truly believe you can be fiscally-conservative and socially liberal (the self-styled makers) are going to vote for the King Midas candidates like Romney anyways, while we purer-than-thou bleeding heart liberals (the takers who have the effrontery to earned less than a million a year) are going to vote for the Democratic candidate no matter how black he is! Not to imply that there are any card-carrying members of the Klan in the Republican party!
Let’s focus on a real poll issue, why do we as the Town of Groton taxpayers pay for a police officer to be present at the polls? What horrific event, what riot, what insurrection in the past has motivated the Town Fathers and Mothers to mandate such an expense? I personally have never felt threatened or menaced by anyone or anything as I have gone to vote. Is there a bylaw, a state statute or perhaps a union agreement similar to one that allows State Troopers to sleep in State paid vehicles with lights flashing at construction sites on our highways and get paid over-time, detail pay that justifies this seemingly pointless extravagance? If you really want to get annoyed think about the great sucking sound of your hard-earned dollars being sucked out of your wallet as you say a cheery good morning to the young man or woman in uniform as you go to vote.
Bill Neacy